Mediastinal non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (MNSGCT) treated with cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Primary mediastinal non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (MNSGCT) constitute a rare malignancy. This study was performed to review our experience with cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with MNSGCT.


METHODS
Patients with MNSGCT treated with cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy between 1978-1995 in three university hospitals in Spain were retrospectively studied.


RESULTS
There were 25 males and two females with a median age of 26 years (range 4-71). Fifteen patients had disease confined to the mediastinum and 12 had metastatic disease. All patients were treated with cisplatin chemotherapy regimens (PVB: 7, BEP: 6, and other regimens 12) and considered for residual mass surgery (RMS) when indicated. Eleven patients (40.7%) were rendered disease-free with initial treatment: four with chemotherapy alone, one with surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy and six with chemotherapy plus RMS. Three of these patients relapsed at two, six and seven months. The remaining 16 had unfavourable responses (five partial response, three no change, seven progressive disease and one toxic death). Eleven patients received salvage treatment but none of them achieved a durable response. After a median follow-up of 77 months (range 1-168), 10 patients remain alive. Actuarial survival at five years is 31.7%. No patients in this series developed a haematological malignancy. Chromosomal analysis showed that 2 out of 10 patients (20%) had a 47XXY karyotype.


CONCLUSIONS
Only patients who achieved disease-free status are likely to be cured. Therefore, new up-front strategies are needed for the treatment of MNSGCT.
Hidalgo
M
M
Division of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
Paz-Ares
L
L
Rivera
F
F
Lianes
P
P
Huidobro
G
G
Ruiz
A
A
López-Brea
M
M
Sanz-Ortiz
J
J
López López
J
J
Cortés-Funes
H
H
Tabernero
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018237:Germinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D018239:Seminoma / Q000188:drug therapy
D002945:Cisplatin