Stage II nonseminomatous testicular cancer: a 10-year experience

Between 1970 and 1980, 82 patients with pathologic stage II nonseminomatous germ cell testicular carcinoma were treated at the University of Minnesota. Of the 30 patients treated with a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, 22 (77%) relapsed. Of the 18 patients treated with retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and adjuvant radiotherapy, 12 (63%) relapsed. Sixteen patients received adjuvant chemotherapy before 1976, and 14 (87.5%) relapsed. After 1976, 18 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy (11 with cisplatin) and 2 (11%) have relapsed. No patient treated with cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy has relapsed. The toxicity has been modest. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is an effective and a safe adjuvant therapy for stage II nonseminomatous germ cell testicular carcinoma.