title: Bleomycin, vincristine, cisplatin/bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin chemotherapy: an alternating, dose intense regimen producing promising results in untreated patients with intermediate or poor prognosis malignant germ-cell tumours.
abstract: Patients with poor and intermediate prognosis metastatic germ-cell tumours (MGCTs) are at a significant risk of relapse after standard platinum-based chemotherapy. Novel treatment regimens are required to improve survival. Dose intense, alternating combinations of drugs with known activity in germ-cell tumours represents one approach. In all, 43 patients with IGCCCG intermediate/poor prognosis MGCT were treated with a dose intense regimen alternating bleomycin, vincristine, cisplatin (BOP) with bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin (BEP) to a maximum of three cycles. Data were collected on the maintenance of dose intensity, toxicity, response, progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The complete response rate was 58%; a further 7% of patients being rendered disease free by resection of viable residual tumour. With a median follow-up of more than 4 years in surviving patients, 3-year OS and PFS rates of 81% (95% CI: 66-91%) and 72% (95% CI: 56-83%) are seen, respectively. Bleomycin, vincristine, cisplatin (BOP)/bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin (BEP) was well tolerated, with 86% of patients completing all planned courses. Toxicity was predominantly haematological with common toxicity criteria grade III neutropenia in 90% of patients. Cisplatin neuropathy and bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity represented the most significant nonhaematological toxicity. Bleomycin, vincristine, cisplatin (BOP)/bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin (BEP) represents a practicable, well-tolerated, dose intense chemotherapy regimen with significant activity in intermediate and poor prognosis MGCT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Beatson Oncology Centre, Glasgow, UK. meddaa@leeds.ac.uk
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Anthoney
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McKean
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Hutcheon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kaye
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008875:Middle Aged; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin