BACKGROUND: Based on the high chemosensitivity of germ-cell tumors (GCTs), the concept of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) has been developed worldwide and investigated through many clinical trials. It has been carried out in different clinical settings, ranging from resistant or absolute refractory disease to chemosensitive relapse. HDCT with stem-cell support has been also explored as a part of first-line strategy for poor-prognosis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our review summarized results from clinical trials evaluating the role of HDCT in patients with advanced GCTs. So far available data were obtained through a Medline search of English-language literature. RESULTS: Several phase II trials and retrospective series have shown a possible benefit for GCT patients with recurrent disease as well as in first-line setting. Despite these results, data derived from randomized phase III studies failed to demonstrate any survival advantage for HDCT over conventional chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The role of HDCT in GCTs remains controversial. We need new prospective studies based on prognostic factors with multiple transplants of carboplatin and etoposide as the preferred high dose regimen. At present, based mainly on retrospective and phase II studies, HDCT may represent a therapeutic option for patients with primary refractory disease or for those with a second or further relapse.
BACKGROUND: Based on the high chemosensitivity of germ-cell tumors (GCTs), the concept of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) has been developed worldwide and investigated through many clinical trials. It has been carried out in different clinical settings, ranging from resistant or absolute refractory disease to chemosensitive relapse. HDCT with stem-cell support has been also explored as a part of first-line strategy for poor-prognosis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our review summarized results from clinical trials evaluating the role of HDCT in patients with advanced GCTs. So far available data were obtained through a Medline search of English-language literature. RESULTS: Several phase II trials and retrospective series have shown a possible benefit for GCT patients with recurrent disease as well as in first-line setting. Despite these results, data derived from randomized phase III studies failed to demonstrate any survival advantage for HDCT over conventional chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The role of HDCT in GCTs remains controversial. We need new prospective studies based on prognostic factors with multiple transplants of carboplatin and etoposide as the preferred high dose regimen. At present, based mainly on retrospective and phase II studies, HDCT may represent a therapeutic option for patients with primary refractory disease or for those with a second or further relapse.
Authors: A Sureda; P Bader; S Cesaro; P Dreger; R F Duarte; C Dufour; J H F Falkenburg; D Farge-Bancel; A Gennery; N Kröger; F Lanza; J C Marsh; A Nagler; C Peters; A Velardi; M Mohty; A Madrigal Journal: Bone Marrow Transplant Date: 2015-03-23 Impact factor: 5.483
Authors: Jacoline E C Bromberg; Brigitta G Baumert; Filip de Vos; Johanna M M Gijtenbeek; Erkan Kurt; Anneke M Westermann; Pieter Wesseling Journal: J Neurooncol Date: 2013-03-23 Impact factor: 4.130
Authors: J Beyer; P Albers; R Altena; J Aparicio; C Bokemeyer; J Busch; R Cathomas; E Cavallin-Stahl; N W Clarke; J Claßen; G Cohn-Cedermark; A A Dahl; G Daugaard; U De Giorgi; M De Santis; M De Wit; R De Wit; K P Dieckmann; M Fenner; K Fizazi; A Flechon; S D Fossa; J R Germá Lluch; J A Gietema; S Gillessen; A Giwercman; J T Hartmann; A Heidenreich; M Hentrich; F Honecker; A Horwich; R A Huddart; S Kliesch; C Kollmannsberger; S Krege; M P Laguna; L H J Looijenga; A Lorch; J P Lotz; F Mayer; A Necchi; N Nicolai; J Nuver; K Oechsle; J Oldenburg; J W Oosterhuis; T Powles; E Rajpert-De Meyts; O Rick; G Rosti; R Salvioni; M Schrader; S Schweyer; F Sedlmayer; A Sohaib; R Souchon; T Tandstad; C Winter; C Wittekind Journal: Ann Oncol Date: 2012-11-14 Impact factor: 32.976
Authors: Robert A Huddart; Rhian Gabe; Fay H Cafferty; Philip Pollock; Jeff D White; Jonathan Shamash; Michael H Cullen; Sally P Stenning Journal: Eur Urol Date: 2014-07-04 Impact factor: 20.096
Authors: Jinsup Kim; Na Hee Lee; Soo Hyun Lee; Keon Hee Yoo; Ki Woong Sung; Hong Hoe Koo; Jeong-Meen Seo; Suk-Koo Lee Journal: Korean J Pediatr Date: 2015-10-21