Pattern of relapse and outcome of non-metastatic germinoma patients treated with chemotherapy and limited field radiation: the SFOP experience.
Over the last two decades, chemotherapy has been introduced in protocols for patients with intracranial germinoma with the objective of reducing the volume and the dose of irradiation without compromising survival rates. The aim of this work is to critically analyze the pattern of relapse in a cohort of patients with nonmetastatic germinoma prospectively treated with chemotherapy followed by focal field radiation. Data of all germinoma patients registered in the French protocol for intracranial germ cell tumors between 1990 and 1999 were reviewed. The pattern of relapse, management, and outcome were analyzed in 10 of 60 patients who developed a recurrence after initial treatment. In 9 patients, the site of recurrence was local or loco-regional, notably in the periventricular area for 8. One patient only had isolated distant leptomeningeal relapse. The review of the sites of relapse suggests that most recurrences could have been avoided with a larger ventricular field of radiation. Treatment at first relapse included chemotherapy (10 patients), high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant (8 patients), and/or radiation therapy (4 patients). Five patients experienced a second relapse. At a median follow-up of 72 months since the first relapse, 8 patients are alive in second or third remission. This review identified an excess of periventricular relapses when the focal field of radiation is used in the combined management of germinoma. These relapses are predominantly marginal or outside radiation fields. Ventricular field radiation appears a logical alternative to decrease the incidence of such relapses. Future trials should aim at better identifying patients who may benefit from local and ventricular radiation, respectively.
Alapetite
Claire
C
Department of Radiotherapy, Institut Curie, Paris, France.
Brisse
Herve
H
Patte
Catherine
C
Raquin
Marie Anne
MA
Gaboriaud
Genevieve
G
Carrie
Christian
C
Habrand
Jean Louis
JL
Thiesse
Philippe
P
Cuilliere
Jean Claude
JC
Bernier
Valerie
V
Ben-Hassel
M
M
Frappaz
Didier
D
Baranzelli
Marie Christine
MC
Bouffet
Eric
E
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018237:Germinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005047:Etoposide; D016190:Carboplatin; D007069:Ifosfamide