[Clinical pattern and therapeutic results obtained in Germ-Cell testicular cancer in Spain based on a consecutive series of 1250 patients].
BACKGROUND
Even its low incidence, germ-cell testicular cancer is very relevant due to its presentation at young ages and its potential curability over 90%. Spanish Germ Cell Cancer Group (GG) joins the efforts of 51 different Spanish centres to share their experience on the diagnosis and treatment of these special tumours.


METHODS
We describe the clinical characteristics and the results of treatment in the first 1,250 patients registered throughout 6 years by the GG.


RESULTS
11% had previous criptorchidism. The most frequent initial local simptomatology was increased testis size (90%). 20% lasted more than six months in receiving the first treatment. Inguinal orquidectomy was done in 95% of patients. 435 cases (35%) were seminoma and 815 (65%)non-seminoma. 19% of seminoma and 78% of non-seminoma produced tumour markers. 75% of seminoma but only 56% of non-seminoma were clinical stage I. Following the IGCCCG prognosis classification,20% of non-seminoma fitted in the poor-prognosis group. Stage I seminoma treatment was surveillance, chemotherapy and complementary radiotherapy in 60, 32 and 6%, respectively. Those features were 65, 35% and none in non-seminoma cases. Chemotherapy schedules used in advanced cases were EP for seminoma and BEP or BOMP-EPIin non-seminoma, according to whether the patient was in the good or bad prognosis IGCCCG group. With a median of follow-up in all serie of 30 months, we have obtained a three years overall survival of 98% (CI 95%, 96,4-9,6), whereas non-seminoma patients had a three years overall survival of 94% (CI 95%, 92-96).


CONCLUSIONS
The Spanish germ cell testicular cancer clinical pattern is similar to that registered in other occidental countries. Co-operative structures like GG,are able to gather an extensive experience in a short period of time that results in achieving a very high number of cured patients.
Germà
J R
JR
Servicio de Oncología Médica. Institut Català d'Oncologia, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Avda. Gran Via, s/n, km 2,7. Barcelona.
García Del Muro
X
X
Maroto
P
P
Lianes
P
P
Arranz
J A
JA
Gumà
J
J
Aparicio
J
J
Sastre
J
J
Alba
E
E
Terrasa
J
J
Sáenz
A
A
Fernández
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018237:Germinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy