Treatment of advanced seminoma with pre-radiation chemotherapy

Seminoma is one of the most radiosensitive of solid tumors. However, the survival rate of patients with clinically advanced stages B3 and C disease is poor. Because of this dismal prognosis we instituted a protocol of pre-radiation chemotherapy in an attempt to improve the survival rates. A chemotherapeutic regimen, consisting of 2 to 3 courses of vincristine, actinomycin D and cyclophosphamide, was administered before radiotherapy. Of 16 patients studied 15 (93.7 per cent) had a complete response to the combined treatment regimen. We believe that pre-radiation chemotherapy is indicated in all patients with advanced seminoma.