[Treatment of malignant intracranial germ-cell tumors in children. 7 cases]

Seven children, aged from 9 to 16 years, with intracranial germ cell tumour received post-operative chemotherapy prior to radiotherapy. Treatment consisted of several courses of vinblastine, bleomycin and cisplatin alternating or not with courses of cyclophosphamide and actinomycin D. In the 6 children whose tumours secreted alphafoetoprotein or chorionic gonadotrophin, chemotherapy brought these markers down to normal. Tumoral regression at radiology exceeded 75 per cent in 6 patients. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of chemotherapy against intracranial germ cell tumours such as pure germinomas or secreting tumours. They encourage the systematic use of pre-irradiation chemotherapy in order to reduce the radiation doses delivered and to improve the prognosis.