Oncology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Oncology, including details on cancer, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy.

Two cycles of etoposide/cisplatin cured all patients with stage I testicular seminoma: risk-adapted protocol of the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group.

Bamias A, Aravantinos G, Deliveliotis C, Thanos A, Klouvas G, Antoniou N, Poulias I, Makatsoris T, Samantas E, Dimopoulos MA

Department of Clinical Therapeutics, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. abamias@med.uoa.gr

OBJECTIVES: Adjuvant carboplatin is used as adjuvant therapy in Stage I testicular seminoma. Although cure is the rule, relapses still occur, especially in high-risk populations. We report the results of a risk-adapted strategy by the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group. METHODS: From 1996 to 2003, 64 patients with Stage I seminoma and one of two risk factors (maximal tumor diameter greater than 4 cm and/or age younger than 34 years) were prospectively included in a protocol of adjuvant chemotherapy. Treatment consisted of two 3-week courses of etoposide 120 mg/m2 and cisplatin 40 mg/m2 for three consecutive days with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support. RESULTS: Of the 64 patients, 43 (67%) were younger than 34 years and 55 (86%) had a tumor diameter greater than 4 cm. Neutropenia and nausea and vomiting were the most frequent grade 3 or 4 toxicities (16.5% and 9.5%, respectively), apart from alopecia. After a median follow-up of 60 months (range 7 to 118), no disease relapses have occurred. A metachronous testicular carcinoma has been reported. One patient died of causes unrelated to his disease. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study have shown that two cycles of etoposide and cisplatin is an effective and safe form of adjuvant therapy for Stage I testicular seminoma. Risk factors can be used to identify patients who could benefit from etoposide and cisplatin treatment.

Published 25 December 2007 in Urology, 70(6): 1179-83.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Oncology Research Today. All Rights Reserved.