Prognostic factors in patients with relapsed or primary refractory germ cell tumors

The aim of the study was to define prognostic factors of overall and event- free survival in patients with germ cell tumors progressing after platinum-based induction chemotherapy with or without surgery. A total of 98 progressing patients were identified out of 700 patients with germ cell tumors treated with platinum-based induction chemotherapy in National Cancer Institute in Bratislava with or without surgery. 98 progressing patients received first salvage chemotherapy from October 1986 to November 2007 due to progression after a previous partial or complete response to induction chemotherapy as well as patients who failed to achieve favourable response to primary therapy. Prognostic factors of survival and event-free survival after first salvage chemotherapy were assessed by univariate analysis. For all 98 progressing patients the median time from the start of induction chemotherapy to progression was 10,2 months (range: 0-256,7 months). 24 (24 %) patients relapsed after 2 years. Median overall survival time following progression was 25,4 months. Estimated 2- and 5- year overall survival rate for all progressing patients was 46 % (95 % CI 41-61%) and 24 % (95% CI 31-51%) respectively. Survival after first salvage chemotherapy was significantly enhanced for patients with age more than 40 years at primary diagnosis, nonvisceral metastasis at the time of induction chemotherapy, prior CR to induction chemotherapy, progression-free interval > 2 years, serum human chorionic gonadotropin level at relapse above or bellow 100 IU/l, a normal serum lactate dehydrogenase level at relapse, one site of metastasis at relapse, treatment with cisplatin-based first salvage chemotherapy, first regimen VIP and favourable response to salvage chemotherapy. Estimated 2- and 5-year event-free survival rate for all patients was 30% (95% CI 24-43% ) and 16%(95% CI 19-37% ) respectively. As a significant favourable prognostic factors of event-free survival were identified: prior CR to induction chemotherapy, progression-free interval > 2 years, one site of metastasis at relapse, treatment with cisplatin-based first salvage chemotherapy, first line salvage regimen VIP and favourable response to salvage chemotherapy. Identification of prognostic features in patients with germ cell tumors progressing after platinum-based induction chemotherapy may direct salvage therapy and requires further investigation of new combination of salvage therapy for those with poor prognosis. Our study showed the indispensable revaluating of chemosenzitivity in patients with late relapses and therapeutic value of additive surgical approach after salvage chemotherapy in patients with reccurent germ cell tumors.