Five-year survival of patients with disseminated nonseminomatous testicular cancer treated with cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin

Cancer. 1984 Oct 15;54(8):1521-4. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19841015)54:8<1521::aid-cncr2820540808>3.0.co;2-8.

Abstract

Ninety-one patients with disseminated testicular non-seminomas were treated with 3 to 4 cycles of cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin (PVB) induction chemotherapy followed by cisplatin and vinblastine maintenance therapy for 1 year. The follow-up of these patients ranges from 24 to 66 months. Forty-nine (54%) patients achieved complete remission by chemotherapy alone and 14 (15%) were rendered free of tumor by surgery after chemotherapy, for a total complete remission rate of 69%. Three complete responders relapsed within 13 months, and two died. One additional complete responder died of a noncancer-related cause. One of the surgical complete responders relapsed and died. Overall, 58 (64%) patients remain free of disease. The 5-year survival is 95% for complete responders, 32% for partial responders, and 72% overall. This combination regimen has significantly improved the survival of disseminated testicular cancer patients, equaling that of Stage II patients in older literature.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Bleomycin / administration & dosage
  • Choriocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Teratoma / drug therapy
  • Testicular Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Testicular Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Vinblastine / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Bleomycin
  • Vinblastine
  • Cisplatin