Long-term efficacy of two cycles of BEP regimen in high-risk stage I nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors with embryonal carcinoma and/or vascular invasion

Abstract

Objectives: To report the long-term impact of two cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy on relapse rates and treatment-related morbidity in high-risk stage I nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors (NSGCTT I).

Material and methods: From April 1987 to September 1997, 40 stage I NSGCTT patients with evidence of vascular invasion and/or embryonal carcinoma (EC) in the orchidectomy specimen were treated with two courses of bleomycin, cisplatin, and etoposide (BEP).

Results: All patients but one (incidental death) were alive after an extended follow-up (median 113.2 months, range 63-189). No patients relapsed but two patients presented a second cancer in the remaining testis. Short-term toxicity was minimal and no long-term toxicity was observed.

Conclusion: The present series, with extensive follow-up, demonstrated that the efficacy and toxicity of two cycles of BEP compared well with the results of surveillance strategies or RPLND in high-risk stage I NSGCTT.