title: Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy with delayed orchiectomy in patients with advanced germ cell testicular cancer.
abstract: A total of 13 patients with advanced germ cell testicular cancer underwent initial PVB chemotherapy without previous orchiectomy. Complete response (CR) of metastases was observed in 5 patients following chemotherapy alone. The residual mass persisted in 8 patients (in 5 of them in the retroperitoneum, in two patients in the lungs only and in one patient in both localizations). The residual masses were removed surgically. There were no viable malignant tumors in the removed tissue on histological examination. Delayed orchiectomy was performed simultaneously with surgical removal of the residual mass in the retroperitoneum or in the lungs in 8 patients, and in 5 patients as a separate procedure in complete responders following chemotherapy alone. Residual viable tumor in the testis was found in three patients, necrotic or fibrotic tissue in 5 patients, and mature teratoma in 5 patients. In patients with advanced germ cell testicular cancer preference must be given to early beginning of intensive chemotherapy without tissue diagnosis of primary tumor by orchiectomy. Benefit of this therapeutic approach is the timely management of acute abdominal and/or pulmonary symptoms of life-threatening distant metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Comenius University Medical School, Dérer Hospital, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ondrus
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hornák
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matoska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D009919:Orchiectomy; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D014747:Vinblastine; D002945:Cisplatin