Results of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with dactinomycin in the treatment of retroperitoneal metastases of nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors

Cancer. 1983 Mar 15;51(6):1076-9. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19830315)51:6<1076::aid-cncr2820510617>3.0.co;2-k.

Abstract

This article discusses 103 patients with a nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumor. Treatment of 87 patients in clinical Stages I, II-A, and II-B consisted of bilateral retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. In Stage I (54 patients), no further treatment was given. The three-year survival was 96%, while recurrence-free survival was 98%. Of 33 patients in Stages II-A and II-B, 26 received adjuvant chemotherapy with dactinomycin, and ten of these were given radiotherapy (peritoneum/mediastinum) as well. The three-year survival was 88% and recurrence-free survival was 85%. Seven patients in Stages II-A and II-B received no adjuvant chemotherapy; four of them died. Treatment of 14 patients in Stage II-C primarily consisted of dactinomycin therapy, subsequently combined with surgery and radiotherapy. The three-year survival was 28.5%. These findings raise the question whether adjuvant single-agent chemotherapy with dactinomycin for patients with a nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumor should not be re-evaluated.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Dactinomycin / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lymph Node Excision*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / therapy*
  • Prognosis
  • Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Testicular Neoplasms / pathology
  • Testicular Neoplasms / therapy*

Substances

  • Dactinomycin