Long term results of treatment in patients with extragonadal germ cell tumours

From 1979 to 1991 56 patients with extragonadal germ cell tumours (EGCT) received cisplatin based chemotherapy. From 16 patients with seminomatous EGCT 13 achieved complete remission (CR) with chemotherapy alone, 2 with additional radiotherapy with final CR rate of 94%. 5 (31%) patients developed relapses and at a median follow-up of 38 (5-103) months 11 (69%) are alive and 10 (62%) have no evidence of disease (NED). Only 7 patients with non-seminomatous EGCT reached CR with chemotherapy alone and 8 more with additional chemotherapy or surgery. Overall CR was 37% and 3 (20%) relapses have been observed. At a median follow-up of 26 (3-114) months 14 (35%) are alive and remain free of disease, 26 (65%) have died. By univariate analysis seminomatous EGCT patients had a significantly greater likelihood of achieving a CR, for non-seminomatous EGCT BEP induction chemotherapy was superior to VAB-6, and NSEGCT patients with serum levels > 2000 ng/ml had worse prognosis. Current staging systems are insufficient to predict the treatment outcome in EGCT.