Combination of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin is an effective second-line therapy for patients with relapsed testicular germ cell tumors.
OBJECTIVE
The efficacy of paclitaxel was evaluated in combination with ifosfamide and cisplatin as second-line chemotherapy for patients with relapsed testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs).


METHODS
Forty-six patients with progressive metastatic GCTs were treated with paclitaxel and ifosfamide plus cisplatin (TIP) as second-line therapy. Eligibility required that patients have both a testis primary tumor site and a prior complete response (CR) to a first-line chemotherapy program, which had been identified previously as favorable prognostic factors to conventional-dose salvage chemotherapy.


RESULTS
Thirty-two (70%) of 46 patients achieved a CR to treatment. Three patients (7%) who achieved a CR relapsed after TIP chemotherapy. Twenty-nine patients are continuously disease free at a median follow-up time of 69 months, resulting in a 63% durable CR rate and a 2-year progression-free survival rate of 65% (95% CI, 51% to 79%).


CONCLUSIONS
Four cycles of TIP as second-line therapy achieved a durable CR rate in a high proportion of patients with relapsed testicular GCT. The high CR rate emphasizes the importance of patient selection according to prognostic factors to achieve a favorable outcome to conventional-dose salvage therapy.
Kondagunta
G Varuni
GV
Genitourinary Oncology Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA. kondaguv@mskcc.org
Bacik
Jennifer
J
Donadio
Alessia
A
Bajorin
Dean
D
Marion
Stephanie
S
Sheinfeld
Joel
J
Bosl
George J
GJ
Motzer
Robert J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D018237:Germinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018579:Patient Selection; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D007069:Ifosfamide