The results of the PINDA protocol for germ cell (non-seminoma) testicular tumours

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to analize the results of the Germ Cell Testicular Tumour National Programme (PINDA) from 1993 to 1999. 29 cases of non-seminoma germ cell testicular tumours were enrolled in the programme. The age at diagnosis ranged from 2 months to 15 years, mean 19 months. Histological analysis showed a predominance of yolk-sack tumours (62%), mixed teratomas (17.3%), immature teratomas (13.85) and mature teratomas (6.9%). The staging was as follows; stage I 69%, stage II 24.1%, stage III 6.9%. All patients underwent unilateral orchidectomy with high ligation of the spermatic cord. Stage 1 patients did not receive chemotherapy, but remained under observation. 8 patients relapsed, 7 belonged to stage 1 and 1 to stage 2, the time to relapse being between 2 and 17 months, all were loco-regional. Rescue chemotherapy with 4 cycles of PVB was used in 6, and in the other case 4, cycles of PVB and PEI. Surgery was indicated in 3 cases, 2 achieving total tumour resection. All stage 2 cases received 4 cycles of PVB, in 1 case with the addition of surgery. There were 2 stage 3 cases, 1 ranked as low risk (minimal lung metastasis) and received PVB, the other as high risk (lung and mediastinal involvement) and received 4 PEI and mediastinal surgery. The overall survival rate was 96% with a 40- month follow-up, with free survival event of 68%. Conclusions: The survival rate is in keeping with international rates, the free survival event was affected by stage 1 relapses, observation alone in stage 1 patients saved 12 patients from un-necessary chemotherapy, the chemotherapeutic regimen gave excellent results combined with low toxicity.