Treatment of recurrent malignant sacrococcygeal germ cell tumors: analysis of 22 patients registered in the German protocols MAKEI 83/86, 89, and 96.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate therapeutic options for recurrent malignant sacrococcygeal germ cell tumors (GCT) following three-agent, cisplatinum-based, first-line chemotherapy and tumor resection.


METHODS
Twenty-two patients were evaluated in 22 first-, 14 second-, five third-, and two fourth-relapse situations. One patient, who relapsed with pure teratoma, was excluded from the analysis of adjuvant treatment.


RESULTS
Seventeen patients presented with an isolated local recurrence, two patients showed a distant relapse, and three patients suffered from a combined local and distant recurrence. Twelve patients achieved complete remission (CR) after surgery (n = 12) and adjuvant platinum chemotherapy (n = 10). Seven of these patients remain in continuous CR, and five patients relapsed. All patients who achieved only a partial remission developed a second relapse. Three of 14 patients could be cured after a second (or further) relapse. Altogether, 10 patients survived disease free, and 12 patients died as a result of tumor progression (n = 11) or therapy-related complications (n = 1). The completeness of salvage surgery and clinical remission status after first salvage treatment were the most important prognostic parameters. In addition, patients in first or second relapse with locally advanced or poorly responding tumors benefited from preoperative chemotherapy in combination with regional hyperthermia (RHT). In some patients after microscopically incomplete resection, irradiation at doses > 45 Gy contributed to a favorable outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
The complete resection of the local recurrence represents the cornerstone of salvage treatment. Preoperative platinum-based chemotherapy, combined with RHT in some patients, facilitates complete tumor resection. Radiotherapy should be reserved for those patients with microscopically incomplete tumor resection. As the chance of cure decreases with further relapses, it is important to establish a stringent therapeutic strategy to avoid significant treatment delays and, most importantly, insufficient local therapy.
Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital, Heinrich-Heine-University, Medical Center, Düsseldorf, Germany. makei@med.uni-dusseldorf.de
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DT
Schneider
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Wessalowski
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G
Calaminus
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H
Pape
M
M
Bamberg
J
J
Engert
K
K
Waag
H
H
Gadner
U
U
Göbel
D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000465:Algorithms; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D011878:Radiotherapy; D012445:Sacrococcygeal Region; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D002945:Cisplatin