title: High dose chemotherapy and stem cell rescue for metastatic germ cell tumours: long-term results from a single institution.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the long term results and the characteristics of patients treated with high dose chemotherapy (HDCT) for an advanced germ cell tumour at Ghent University Hospital from 1996 to 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of patients treated with HDCT for germ cell tumours was performed. Data about stage at diagnosis, different prognostic scoring systems, timing of HDCT, response to HDCT and relapse-free period were collected. The following endpoints were evaluated: complete or incomplete response to HDCT, relapse free survival and overall survival time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 148 patients treated with chemotherapy for an advanced germ cell tumour from 1996 to 2010, 10 (6.8%) needed salvage treatment by means of HDCT. Six patients achieved a complete response to one cycle of HDCT and 2 additional patients achieved a complete response to a second cycle of HDCT. A retrospective analysis showed 8 long-term survivors with a maximum follow-up time of 152 months. Two patients were recently transplanted and are not evaluable for survival yet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that long-term survival can be obtained by means of HDCT for metastatic germ cell tumours, even in patients with bad prognostic features at diagnosis. The question of whether to use 1 or 2 cycles of HDCT still remains unanswered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium. vibeke.kruse@uzgent.be
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kruse
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Noens
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lumen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hoebeke
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Belle
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rottey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D005047:Etoposide; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D016190:Carboplatin