Therapy of extragonadal germ-cell tumors

Sixteen patients with primary extragonadal germ-cell tumors were treated at the Department of Chemotherapy, Finsen Institute, Copenhagen from 1976 to 1982. Twelve patients received a combination of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (cisplatin), vinblastine and bleomycin (PVB). Eight patients had a complete remission and 5 had a partial response. Eighty-six percent of the patients achieving complete remission remain free of disease after a median follow-up of 42 months. The best results with PVB were obtained in teratocarcinomas and embryonal carcinomas, while more effective chemotherapy regimens are needed for the treatment of choriocarcinomas and endodermal sinus tumours.