Radiation Oncology/Testis/NSGCT

Non-Seminomatous Germ Cell Tumors (NSGCT)


 * ''Subpage: NSGCT Randomized Evidence

Prognostic factors
International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group:
 * PMID 9053482, 1997 &mdash; "International germ cell consensus classification: a prognostic factor­-based staging system for metastatic germ cell cancers." J Clin Oncol 1997;15(2):594-603.
 * Non-seminomatous tumors:
 * Good risk: Testicular or retroperitoneal primary tumor AND No nonpulmonary visceral metastasis AND good markers (see below)
 * Good markers (all of the following):
 * AFP <1,000 ng/mL
 * hCG <5,000 mIU/mL
 * LDH <1.5 x ULN
 * Intermediate risk: Same as good risk but with Intermediate markers
 * Intermediate markers (any of the following):
 * AFP 1,000-10,000 ng/mL
 * hCG 5,000-50,000 mIU/mL
 * LDH 1.5-10 x ULN
 * Poor risk: Mediastinal primary tumor OR Nonpulmonary visceral metastasis OR Poor markers
 * Poor markers (any of the following):
 * AFP >10,000 ng/mL
 * hCG >50,000 mIU/mL
 * LDH >10 x ULN

Treatment Overview

 * Stage I, Good and intermediate risk:
 * Treatment is orchiectomy alone.
 * 30% chance of relapse after orchiectomy if tumor markers are normal at time of treatment.
 * Adjuvant treatment:
 * Observation vs retroperitoneal lymph node dissection - ultimately 99% will be cured.
 * Observation:
 * Assessment of tumor markers q1month for first year, q2m for 2nd year, q6m for years 3-5, then yearly starting with the sixth year. CT scan of the abdomen q2m (year 1), q4m (year 2), q6m (year 3-5).
 * RPLND:
 * 30% chance of positive nodes on dissection despite node-negative CT. Relapse rate is 10% after lymph node dissection, primarily to lungs.
 * RPLND leads to 96% PFS for Stages I-IIA with normal markers after surgery. Not indicated for Stage IIB or higher or persistent tumor markers.
 * BEP (bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin) x1 cycle
 * German randomized trial showed this approach superior to RPLND
 * Positive tumor markers
 * Chemotherapy indicated for Stage IIB or higher or positive tumor markers after surgery.


 * Stage II (positive node discovered only after lymph node dissection)
 * Relapse rate 30-50%. Treatment is BEP x 2 cycles.


 * Bulky Stage II-III
 * Treatment is BEP x 3 or EP x 4.


 * Poor risk
 * BEP x 4 leads to 50% cure rate. Investigational treatments may be offered.

Adjuvant Therapy

 * AUO AH 01/94 (Germany)(1996-2005) -- RPLND vs. BEP 1 cycle
 * Randomized. 382 patients, clinical Stage I NSGCT. Arm 1) retroperitoneal lymph node dissection vs. Arm 2) bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin (BEP) x1 cycle
 * 5-years; 2008 PMID 18458040 -- "Randomized phase III trial comparing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection with one course of bleomycin and etoposide plus cisplatin chemotherapy in the adjuvant treatment of clinical stage I Nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors: AUO trial AH 01/94 by the German Testicular Cancer Study Group." (Albers P, J Clin Oncol. 2008 Jun 20;26(18):2966-72. Epub 2008 May 5.). Median F/U 4.7 years
 * Outcome: 2-year RFS surgery 92% vs. BEP 99% (HR 7.9, SS)
 * Conclusion: One course of BEP is superior over RPLND in clinical Stage I disease

Surveillance
Frequency of CT scans:
 * MRC Trial TE08 (1998-2003) -- 2 CT scans vs 5 CT scans
 * Randomized. 414 patients, clinical Stage I NSGCT. Treated with orchiectomy. 10% high risk (LVI). Normal serum markers. Arm 1) 2 CT scans (3 and 12 months) vs. Arm 2) 5 CT scans (3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months). CT was chest/abdomen; all other investigations (CXR, serum markers) were same between arms
 * 2007 PMID 17416851 &mdash; "Randomized Trial of Two or Five Computed Tomography Scans in the Surveillance of Patients With Stage I Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumors of the Testis: Medical Research Council Trial TE08, ISRCTN56475197—The National Cancer Research Institute Testis Cancer Clinical Studies Group." (Rustin GJ et al. J Clin Oncol. 2007 Apr 10; 25(11):1310-1315.) Median F/U 3.3 years
 * Outcome: 2-year RFS 2-scan 79% vs. 5-scan 84% (NS). For pts with vascular invasion, relapse 63% to 67%. No pts relapsed with poor prognosis disease; intermediate prognosis relapse in 2 pts (5.6% of relapses) in 2 scan group and 1 pt (3%) in 5 scan group.
 * First indication of relapse: markers 39%, abd CT 39%. 9 relapses were picked up by the 12 month CT scan.
 * Conclusion: CT scans at 3 months and 12 months after orchiectomy reasonable options in low-risk patients. 12 month CT scan is necessary. Chest CT may be unnecessary. LDH is not useful in follow-up.