Chemotherapeutic and surgical strategies for germ cell tumors.

Abstract

Testicular cancer has become a model for a curable neoplasm. Studies of cisplatin combination chemotherapy performed by the author's group allow the following conclusions: (1) short-duration, intensive induction therapy with the most active agents in optimal dosage is more important than maintenance therapy; (2) a modest dose escalation increases toxicity without improving therapeutic efficacy; (3) it is possible to develop curative salvage therapy for refractory germ cell tumors; and (4) preclinical models predicting synergism, such as vinblastine plus bleomycin or cisplatin plus etoposide, have clinical relevance. Testicular cancer has also become a model for new drug development. Cisplatin has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for testis and ovarian cancer and VP-16 and ifosfamide for refractory germ cell tumors. The success of these studies confirms the importance of the continued search for new investigational drugs in all solid tumors.

• Authors: Lawrence H Einhorn
• Journal: Chest surgery clinics of North America (Chest Surg Clin N Am) Vol. 12 Issue 4 Pg. 695-706 (Nov 2002) ISSN: 1052-3359 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12471872 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Bleomycin
• Vinblastine
• Etoposide
• Cisplatin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic (administration & dosage)
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (administration & dosage)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Bleomycin (administration & dosage)
• Cisplatin (administration & dosage)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Etoposide (administration & dosage)
• Germinoma (diagnosis, drug therapy, surgery)
• Humans
• Male
• Mediastinal Neoplasms (diagnosis, drug therapy, surgery)
• Neoplasm Staging (methods)
• Salvage Therapy (methods)
• Testicular Neoplasms (diagnosis, drug therapy, surgery)
• Treatment Outcome
• Vinblastine (administration & dosage)