Chemotherapy for ovarian germ cell tumours

Eur J Cancer. 1996 Apr;32A(4):593-7. doi: 10.1016/0959-8049(95)00598-6.

Abstract

59 patients were treated for newly diagnosed metastatic ovarian germ cell tumours with POMB/ACE chemotherapy (which contains cisplatinum, vincristine, methotrexate, bleomycin, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide and etoposide). The median follow-up was 7.7 years. The 3 year survival is 87.8% (95% confidence interval 76.9-93.9%) and no relapses occurred more than 3 years after treatment. 4 (7%) patients had primary drug resistance to POMB/ACE and 4 (7%) have relapsed. One patient in complete remission developed secondary acute myeloid leukaemia after receiving a total of 1.3 g/m2 etoposide. 6 of 12 (50%) patients referred at relapse were salvaged by POMB/ACE. 14 of 33 (42%) women (> 18 years old) have had successful pregnancies after fertility conserving surgery and chemotherapy with no congenital abnormalities reported. The POMB/ACE regimen is as efficacious as other published regimens for ovarian germ cell tumours (OGCT) and balances a low incidence of life-threatening toxicity with a high success rate.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Bleomycin / administration & dosage
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Cisplatin / adverse effects
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
  • Cyclophosphamide / adverse effects
  • Dactinomycin / administration & dosage
  • Dactinomycin / adverse effects
  • Etoposide / administration & dosage
  • Etoposide / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Germinoma / drug therapy*
  • Germinoma / mortality
  • Germinoma / surgery
  • Humans
  • Leucovorin / administration & dosage
  • Leucovorin / adverse effects
  • Methotrexate / administration & dosage
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / mortality
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / surgery
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic
  • Remission Induction
  • Salvage Therapy
  • Survival Rate
  • Vincristine / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Bleomycin
  • Dactinomycin
  • Vincristine
  • Etoposide
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Cisplatin
  • Leucovorin
  • Methotrexate

Supplementary concepts

  • VBM protocol