Current optimum management of anaplastic germ cell tumours of the testis and other sites

Abstract

Between 1977 and 1985, 149 male patients with anaplastic germ cell tumours (AGCT) completed chemotherapy with POMB/ACE (platinum, vincristine (oncovine), methotrexate, bleomycin, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide and etoposide). By increasing the number of courses of POMB in 1979, we have been able to compensate for adverse prognostic factors. Since then each patient has received at least three courses of POMB and 118 patients have completed therapy. The overall survival rate since 1979 is 89% and for the 100 patients who had not received prior radiotherapy it is 92%. We established that an initial serum concentration of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG greater than 50,000 iu/l) and/or alphafetoprotein (AFP greater than 500 ku/l) indicated a poor prognosis. Between 1977 and 1979 the survival rate in 12 patients in this category was only 45%. After increasing the number of courses of POMB, the survival rate rose to 89% in 31 patients. However, patients who had received prior radiotherapy and who presented with high tumour markers (HCG greater than 50,000 iu/l and/or AFP greater than 500 ku/l) continue to have a poor survival rate (20% in five patients). With this chemotherapy, 14 of 16 patients (88%) presenting with liver metastases and 6 of 7 patients (86%) presenting with brain metastases are in complete remission. Neither the stage at presentation nor the volume of metastatic disease was a major adverse prognostic variable. We believe that POMB/ACE chemotherapy, followed by surgery in selected cases, is currently the best treatment for patients with AGCT.