Background: In most patients with advanced refractory germ cell tumors undergoing high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell support (HDCT) the disease progresses after HDCT. This study was designed to shed light on the unestablished role of post-HDCT chemotherapy.
Patients and methods: In a retrospective multicenter study data of 47 evaluable patients from nine centers subjected to post-HDCT chemotherapy for progression of their germ cell tumors were collected in a questionnaire survey and analyzed for treatment response and survival.
Results: Of 191 patients pretreated by HDCT, 48 (25%) were subjected to post-HDCT chemotherapy for disease progression. Remission was achieved in 17 (36%) and marker-negative remission in eight (17%). The median survival time was 26 weeks, 65 weeks for responders and 13 weeks for non-responders. Only one of 47 evaluable patients achieved sustained complete remission. Remissions significantly correlated with the post-HDCT interval, the use of ifosfamide and the combination regimens of cisplatin + etoposide i.v. or ifosfamide and of paclitaxel + ifosfamide or cisplatin. On univariate analysis a longer post-HDCT interval, the use of cisplatin, paclitaxel and ifosfamide and the combined use of paclitaxel + ifosfamide and/or cisplatin significantly improved the chances of survival. On multivariate analysis only treatment with paclitaxel and ifosfamide retained independent prognostic significance for survival.
Conclusions: One third of the patients considered to be candidates for further chemotherapy once progressive after HDCT went into remission with a gain in survival time. Sustained remissions may occur, but are rarely seen. Paclitaxel and ifosfamide appear to be the most effective drugs in these heavily pretreated patients.