[VAB-6 combination chemotherapy in patients with stage II, III testicular tumor]

Between 1983 and 1985, six patients with advanced testicular cancer were treated with 3 cycles of vinblastine, actinomycin D, bleomycin, cyclophosphamide and cisplatinum (VAB-6 combination chemotherapy without maintenance). The histology of the primary tumor was seminoma in one patient and nonseminomatous germ cell testicular tumor (NSGCTT) in 5. Five men with stage III or bulky stage II diseases received no prior chemotherapy but one had received another chemotherapy without cisplatinum. Two patients showed a complete response to chemotherapy. Three were partial responders free of disease after a debulking operation and additional chemotherapy. The other patient who had NSGCTT had recurrence 5 months after the last induction chemotherapy and received additional chemotherapy (PVeBV regimen). Median follow-up was 16 months (range 2 to 28 months) and all patients are alive with no evidence of disease. Severe myelosuppression and serious renal toxicity were not experienced. Marked, but transient elevation of serum transaminase were observed in all patients. These data suggest that this protocol is highly effective and minimally toxic in the treatment of disseminated testicular tumor.