Improved clinical outcome in recent years for men with metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors

Abstract

Purpose: The integration of chemotherapy and surgery for metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) results in survival rates of greater than 80% overall. We evaluated men undergoing postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND) for NSGCT to determine associations between year of treatment and clinical outcome.

Patients and methods: We evaluated 504 men who underwent PC-RPLND from 1989 to 2002 for NSGCT at our center. Data were obtained from our prospective surgical database and a multivariable logistic regression model was constructed to evaluate variables associated with 15-month relapse in 392 patients with complete data.

Results: From 1989 to 1997, clinical stage IIa, IIb, IIc, and III NSGCT was seen in 4%, 20%, 23%, and 47% of patients, respectively, compared with 18%, 26%, 11%, and 38%, respectively, from 1998 to 2002 (P < .001). The median prechemotherapy nodal size for 1989 to 1997 and 1998 to 2002 was 5.0 and 3.5 cm, respectively (P < .001). On multivariable analysis, prechemotherapy retroperitoneal nodal size (odds ratio [OR], 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.21; P = .005) and presence of visceral metastasis (OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.02 to 4.33; P = .04) were significantly associated with 15-month relapse. Men who received a complete RPLND were significantly less likely to experience relapse (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.50; P < .0005).

Conclusion: In more recent years, men are presenting with less advanced metastatic NSGCT. This stage migration together with effective therapy has resulted in an improved relapse-free survival.