title: Improved outcome of central nervous system germ cell tumors: implications for the role of risk-adapted intensive chemotherapy.
abstract: To determine the impact of treatment protocols on the outcome of central nervous system germ cell tumors (CNS-GCTs), we reviewed the medical records of 53 patients who received front-line chemotherapy from September 1997 to September 2006. Pure germinoma, normal alpha-fetoprotein level and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin level <50 mIU/mL were regarded as low-risk features and the others as high-risk. Patients from different time periods were divided into 3 groups according to the chemotherapy protocols. Group 1 (n=19) received 4 cycles of chemotherapy comprising cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin. Group 2 (n=16) and group 3 (n=18) received 4 cycles of chemotherapy with cisplatin, etoposide, cyclophosphamide and vincristine in the former and with carboplatin, etoposide, cyclophosphamide and bleomycin in the latter. In group 2 and group 3, high-risk patients received double doses of cisplatin, carboplatin and cyclophosphamide. Radiotherapy was given after chemotherapy according to the clinical requirements. The event-free survivals of groups 1, 2, and 3 were 67.0%, 93.8%, and 100%, respectively (group 1 vs. 2, P=0.06; group 2 vs. 3, P=0.29; group 1 vs. 3, P=0.02). Our data suggest that risk-adapted intensive chemotherapy may improve the outcome of patients with malignant CNS-GCTs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Keon Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Soo Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jeehun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ki Woong
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Hye Lim
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Hong Hoe
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Do Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Jong Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyung Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor