VP-16-213 and cisplatin in the treatment of patients with refractory germ cell tumors.

Twenty-two patients with progressive or relapsing germ cell tumors and one patient without prior treatment received VP-16-213 (etoposide) 100 mg/m2 on days 1-5 and cisplatin 20 mg/m2 days 1-5 every 4 weeks. Three complete remissions and one partial remission were seen in five patients who previously achieved a complete remission to a cisplatin-based regimen. A partial remission was observed in a previously untreated patient with widely metastatic extragonadal choriocarcinoma. No complete remissions and two partial remissions were seen in 14 patients who did not achieve a previous complete remission to cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy. Four patients remain free of disease, including one complete responder and three patients treated after resection of a solitary recurrence. Myelosuppression was universal and two very heavily pretreated patients died with leukopenia and presumed infection. VP-16-213 plus cisplatin may be an effective salvage regimen for patients relapsing after a complete remission, but is probably ineffective if the patient has not achieved a prior complete remission.