[New chemotherapy (adriamycin, belomycin and vincristin) of metastasizing malignant testicular teratoma (author's transl)]

Abstract

In a prospective study 18 patients with metastasizing testicular teratomas were treated with adriamycin, bleomycin and vincristin. Sixteen could be fully evaluated: 12 in stage IV (visceral metastases), three in stage III (lymphondular involvement beyond the diaphragm) and one with advanced stage II (iliac, para-aortic and inguinal nodes). None of the patients had previously received chemotherapy. Toxic side-effects were not severe enough to prevent 12 patients from being treated on an outpatient basis. Complete remission occurred in five, with four of them still in remission two, eight, ten and eleven months later. Partial remission (50% decrease in tumour size for at least four weeks) occurred in three, with one still improving. No change was noted for 11 months in a patient with advanced pulmonary disease. Progression under therapy occurred in seven patients and in some of them there was an initial response which did not, however, meet the criteria of partial remission. The therapeutic results as well as toxicity suggest that this regime is superior to actinomycin D montherapy and various previously used combinations.