General Motors Cancer Research Prizewinners Laureates Lectures. Charles F. Kettering Prize. Clinical trials in testicular cancer.
Testicular cancer has become a model for a curable neoplasm. Our studies with cisplatin combination chemotherapy allow us to conclude that (1) short-duration intensive induction therapy with the most active agents in optimal dosage is more important than maintenance therapy; (2) 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+bleomycin or cisplatin+VP-16, have clinical relevance. Finally, testicular cancer also has become a model for new drug development. Cisplatin was approved by the FDA 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.
University Hospital, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5265.
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D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001363:Awards and Prizes; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005854:Germ Cells; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D002945:Cisplatin