title: Chemotherapy of refractory germ cell cancer with Etoposide.
abstract: Eighteen patients with advanced germ-cell cancer (12 primary gonadal, six extragonadal) that was refractory to vinblastine (V), cisplatin (P), and bleomycin (B) were treated with Etoposide (VP-16-213) and cisplatin +/- bleomycin sulfate +/- doxorubicin hydrochloride. All patients experienced nausea, vomiting, alopecia, and myelosuppression. There were no treatment-related deaths. Five (42%) of 12 patients with primary gonadal germ-cell cancer achieved a complete remission and are presently alive with no evidence of disease. None of the six patients with extragonadal germ-cell cancer achieved a complete response. Thirteen patients died 6.2 months (median) after starting Etoposide treatment. Etoposide-containing chemotherapy is useful in patients with primary gonadal germ-cell cancer. Alternative therapies are needed for patients with extragonadal germ cell cancer.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008649:Mesonephroma / Q000188:drug therapy; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011034:Podophyllotoxin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D011034:Podophyllotoxin; D002945:Cisplatin