title: Post-orchidectomy radiation therapy alone for patients with early stage non-seminomatous germ cell tumours of the testis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to review the patterns of disease relapse and survival outcomes for patients treated post-orchidectomy with radiotherapy for early stage (I and IIA) non-seminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis (NSGCT). The clinical records were reviewed of 117 men consecutively treated at the Queensland Radium Institute from 1960-90 (inclusive) for stage I or IIA NSGCT. A total of 108 patients received radiotherapy to the para-aortic nodes and ipsilateral hemipelvis following orchidectomy; nine patients received radiotherapy to the para-aortic nodes and whole pelvis. Twenty-two of 99 (22.2%) stage I and eight of 18 (44.4%) stage IIA patients relapsed following definitive radiotherapy. The 5 year overall and recurrence-free survivals were 84 and 75%, respectively. Factors associated with a significantly worse outcome included: (i) patients with stage IIA disease; (ii) the presence of undifferentiated elements in the operative specimen; (iii) a primary tumor < 5 cm size; and (iv) treatment given prior to 1979. Given the unsatisfactory recurrence rate following radiation therapy alone and the availability of cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens, it is recommended that radiation therapy alone for patients with early stage NSGCT be abandoned in favour of other management strategies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kearsley
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tripcony
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018237:Germinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009919:Orchiectomy; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015996:Survival Rate; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*