Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
6
pubmed:dateCreated
1991-8-20
pubmed:abstractText
127 men with previously untreated non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCT) of the testis were given BEP chemotherapy (bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin) between 1979-1986. Long-term follow-up (median 65 months) has shown an overall 5 year survival of 87.2% (95% confidence limits 81.1%-93.3%). Outcome was related to both tumour volume and serum marker levels of alpha-fetoprotein (alpha FP) and beta human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), with 5 year actuarial survivals of 97.8%, 72.2% and 26.7% respectively for small, large and very large volume disease defined by Medical Research Council criteria, and 91.2% and 60.8%, respectively, for men with low (alpha FP less than or equal to 500 kU/l and HCG less than or equal to 1000 iU/l) or high serum marker levels. 79 men (62%) had a complete radiological and serum marker response to chemotherapy alone; residual masses postchemotheraphy were resected in 39 patients (31%), showing undifferentiated tumour in only 6 (15%). 23 of the 127 patients (18%) failed to respond or developed recurrent disease after BEP; only 5 were successfully salvaged. Myelotoxicity of treatment was mild with grade 4 toxicity in 2% of chemotherapy courses and 3 episodes of neutropenic sepsis. Mean glomerular filtration rates fell by 15.6% between courses 1 and 4 of BEP. Bleomycin pneumonitis developed in 13% of cases with 1 fatality. So far 21 men have had children following chemotherapy, but semen analysis 12 months or more (median 36 months) after treatment showed azoospermia in 11 out of 54 (20%) men tested. BEP chemotherapy can be regarded as standard treatment for patients with metastatic NSGCT in low-risk categories, but more intensive therapy is required for advanced presentations. Strategies to develop "risk related" treatment are under investigation.
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0959-8049
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
27
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
684-91
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1991
pubmed:articleTitle
Combination chemotherapy with bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP) for metastatic testicular teratoma: long-term follow-up.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, U.K.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't