Prognostic factors in advanced nonseminomatous testicular cancer. A multivariate logistic regression analysis.

In order to define prognostic factors for advanced stage of nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) of the testis, the authors reviewed 84 patients treated from 1978 through 1985. The survival rate was 51% at 3 years. Patients with elevated seric levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and/or alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), or the presence of an abdominal mass had significantly worse survival. Only HCG and AFP levels retained their significance when multivariate Cox analysis was performed. The probability that a patient achieves a complete remission (CR) was assessed by a function of certain patient characteristics using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. The significant variables were a function of HCG and AFP values. Since both variables are related to the CR rate and survival the authors define the obtention of a CR as a unique outcome of interest. The probability of a CR greater than 70% adequately separates the patients into two prognostic subgroups. This model currently is being used to enrole NSGCT patients in a prospective modulated clinical trial according to these prognostic factors.