Cyclophosphamide and sequential cisplatin for advanced seminoma: long-term followup in 52 patients

Fifty-two patients with advanced seminoma were treated with primary chemotherapy: 44 received cyclophosphamide and weekly cisplatin, and 8 received sequential weekly cisplatin alone. Of the patients treated with chemotherapy alone only 44 achieved a complete remission and 4 were salvaged with further therapy (1 chemotherapy and 3 radiation therapy). These 48 patients (92 per cent) remained free of disease at a followup of 30 to 471 weeks. Six prognostic factors were tested by univariate analysis (chi-square) and only the use of previous chemotherapy predicted for a lower complete remission rate (p equals 0.02). Renal toxicity (greater than 0.4 mg. per dl. increase in serum creatinine) occurred in 2 patients (4 per cent). Neurotoxicity occurred in 16 patients (31 per cent). No fatal toxicity occurred. Cyclophosphamide and weekly cisplatin were well tolerated in patients previously treated with radiation therapy and is the treatment of choice for patients with disseminated seminoma.