POMB/ACE chemotherapy in non-seminomatous germ cell tumours: outcome and importance of dose intensity.

This study reports the outcome of POMB/ACE (cisplatin, vincristine, methotrexate, bleomycin, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide, etoposide) chemotherapy in 53 male patients with metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumour (NSGCT) treated between 1983 and 1989 in one centre. The overall complete response (CR) rate was 62% [95% confidence interval (CI) 49-75%), and for patients with large or very large volume disease (L/VL, MRC criteria), the CR rate was 56% (95% CI 41-71%). The overall 5 year survival was 61%, and for L/VL volume disease 67%. Comparison with previous studies suggests that POMB/ACE chemotherapy is not superior to BEP, even in patients with adverse prognostic factors. Increased average relative dose intensity and increased relative dose intensity of cisplatin over the first seven courses were not associated with improved survival. However, in patients receiving a relative dose intensity of etoposide greater than or equal to 0.75, survival at 5 years was significantly improved compared with those in whom this parameter was less than 0.75 (79% vs. 44%, P less than 0.05), suggesting that dose intensity of etoposide may be an important determinant of outcome in the chemotherapy of metastatic NSGCT.