Primary Mediastinal Germ Cell Tumors in Children and Adolescents: Results of the German Cooperative Protocols MAKEI 83/86, 89, and 96

2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 832-832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominik T. Schneider ◽  
Gabriele Calaminus ◽  
Harald Reinhard ◽  
Peter Gutjahr ◽  
Bernhard Kremens ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: To evaluate children and adolescents with primary mediastinal teratoma and malignant germ cell tumors (GCTs).PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients from the German nontesticular GCT studies were analyzed (median age, 2.5 years; range, neonate to 17 years). Teratoma (n = 21) were resected, and no adjuvant treatment was given. Malignant GCTs (n = 26) were treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy and resection. Three of 26 patients underwent radiotherapy.RESULTS: In all patients with teratoma, tumor markers were normal. Surgery of teratoma was complete in 17 of 21 patients and microscopically incomplete in four of 21 patients, and we observed no relapse after a median follow-up of 29 months. In 23 of 26 patients with malignant GCTs, alpha-fetoprotein and/or beta-human chorionic gonadotropin were elevated. Twelve of 26 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy after initial resection, which was complete in six of 12 patients, whereas delayed resection after preoperative chemotherapy was complete in 10 of 11 patients (P = .03). Four of six patients underwent second-look thoracotomy after incomplete primary surgery. Three of 26 patients did not undergo tumor resection. The final completeness of resection was the strongest prognostic indicator (event-free survival [EFS], 0.94 ± 0.06 v 0.42 ± 0.33; P < .002). Local stage and distant metastases were not prognostically significant at the .05 level. For all malignant GCTs, the 5-year survival rate was 0.87 ± 0.05 (median follow-up, 51 months), with an EFS of 0.83 ± 0.05.CONCLUSION: The prognosis of mediastinal teratoma is excellent after complete or microscopically incomplete resection. In children with malignant GCT, the prognosis is favorable with a therapeutic strategy of delayed resection after preoperative chemotherapy. In most children, the diagnosis can be based on elevated tumor markers and imaging. Biopsy is indicated in nonsecreting GCT.

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 759
Author(s):  
Nina Mørup ◽  
Ewa Rajpert-De Meyts ◽  
Anders Juul ◽  
Gedske Daugaard ◽  
Kristian Almstrup

New microRNA-based serum biomarkers (miRNA-367-3p, -371a-3p, -372-3p, and -373-3p) have shown great potential for the detection of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), but few studies have investigated the clinical utility and performance of these tests in treatment monitoring. In this study, circulating miRNA levels were measured, together with serum tumor markers alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in 406 consecutive blood samples obtained during the treatment and follow-up of 52 TGCT patients at the Copenhagen University Hospital. After testing three different methods of RNA isolation from peripheral blood and PCR quantification in a subset of samples (n = 15), the best performing setup of targeted isolation of miRNAs inside and outside exosomes was selected to analyze all samples. At primary diagnosis, the miRNAs significantly outperformed the serum tumor markers, with a sensitivity and specificity of 78% and 100% (based on 40 patients), respectively. The picture was not as clear when patient trajectories were investigated, with both positive and negative signals for miRNAs and serum tumor markers. To establish whether measuring miRNAs adds value beyond the primary diagnosis, large prospective clinical trials comparing miRNAs and classical tumor markers during the treatment and follow-up of TGCT patients are needed.


Author(s):  
Yue Che ◽  
Achim Lusch ◽  
Christian Winter ◽  
Robert Große Siemer ◽  
Carolin Buddensieck ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Late relapsing germ cell tumors (LR-GCT) are considered a rare distinct biologic entity as their clinical presentation and response to treatment is different to early recurrences. While serum tumor markers (AFP and ß-HCG) play an important role at the time of first diagnosis to correctly classify prognosis and treatment of germ cell tumors, they may not have the same significance in a late relapse situation. Patients and methods Thirty-seven patients with LR-GCT with elevated serum tumor markers were identified in our database. Twenty-six patients underwent primary surgical resection of the late relapsing tumor. Eleven patients received salvage chemotherapy and a post-chemotherapy residual tumor resection. Serum tumor markers, histological findings and oncological outcome were analyzed. Results In the histopathological specimen, viable cancer was found in 20 cases (54%) and teratoma was found in 16 cases (43%). In nine cases (24%), a somatic-type malignant transformation was present. In 19 of 37 patients (51.4%), the late relapse specimen presented a histological type of GCT, which was not present in the primary histology. Twenty-two patients (59.5%) were included in follow-up analysis. Mean and median follow-up time was 62.2 and 53 months, respectively. Seventeen patients (77.3%) suffered a relapse or had progressive disease after LR therapy. Five patients (22.7%) have been relapse-free after LR therapy (mean FU 61.6 months). Ten patients died of disease during follow-up (45.5%) and had a mean time from LR to death of 66.4 months. Eleven patients were alive at last follow-up (mean FU 62.2 months). Relapse and survival rate were similar between patients who received primary resection of LR tumor and patients who received salvage chemotherapy followed by surgery. Conclusion Patients with a late relapsing germ cell tumor and elevated markers have a poor prognosis and a high risk for another relapse independent on primary treatment. The histological type and aggressiveness of a late relapsing tumor cannot be predicted with serum tumor marker levels at the time of diagnosis of LR. In up to 54% of cases, primary histology did not coincide with LR histology. Therefore, we propose primary surgical resection of a late relapsing tumor if a complete resection is feasible in order to gain exact histology and tailor further treatment.


2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 1951-1960 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. T. Schneider ◽  
R. Wessalowski ◽  
G. Calaminus ◽  
H. Pape ◽  
M. Bamberg ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: To evaluate therapeutic options for recurrent malignant sacrococcygeal germ cell tumors (GCT) following three-agent, cisplatinum-based, first-line chemotherapy and tumor resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients were evaluated in 22 first-, 14 second-, five third-, and two fourth-relapse situations. One patient, who relapsed with pure teratoma, was excluded from the analysis of adjuvant treatment. RESULTS: Seventeen patients presented with an isolated local recurrence, two patients showed a distant relapse, and three patients suffered from a combined local and distant recurrence. Twelve patients achieved complete remission (CR) after surgery (n = 12) and adjuvant platinum chemotherapy (n = 10). Seven of these patients remain in continuous CR, and five patients relapsed. All patients who achieved only a partial remission developed a second relapse. Three of 14 patients could be cured after a second (or further) relapse. Altogether, 10 patients survived disease free, and 12 patients died as a result of tumor progression (n = 11) or therapy-related complications (n = 1). The completeness of salvage surgery and clinical remission status after first salvage treatment were the most important prognostic parameters. In addition, patients in first or second relapse with locally advanced or poorly responding tumors benefited from preoperative chemotherapy in combination with regional hyperthermia (RHT). In some patients after microscopically incomplete resection, irradiation at doses > 45 Gy contributed to a favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: The complete resection of the local recurrence represents the cornerstone of salvage treatment. Preoperative platinum-based chemotherapy, combined with RHT in some patients, facilitates complete tumor resection. Radiotherapy should be reserved for those patients with microscopically incomplete tumor resection. As the chance of cure decreases with further relapses, it is important to establish a stringent therapeutic strategy to avoid significant treatment delays and, most importantly, insufficient local therapy.


Oncology ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janusz J. Szymendera ◽  
Józef Zborzil ◽  
Ludwika Sikorowa ◽  
Jan Leńko ◽  
Janina A. Kamińska ◽  
...  

2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 1943-1950 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Göbel ◽  
D. T. Schneider ◽  
G. Calaminus ◽  
H. Jürgens ◽  
H. J. Spaar ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: To evaluate a multimodal approach including surgery and cisplatinum chemotherapy for treatment of children with malignant sacrococcygeal germ cell tumors (GCT) and to compare adjuvant and neoadjuvant strategies in advanced tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1983 and 1995, 71 patients with malignant sacrococcygeal GCT were prospectively enrolled onto the German protocols for nontesticular GCT Maligne Keimzelltumoren 83/86 and 89. Five patients who received no chemotherapy (n = 2) or nonplatinum chemotherapy (n = 2) or who did not undergo tumor resection (n = 1) were excluded from this analysis. Among the 66 patients analyzed were 14 boys and 52 girls. The median age was 17.4 months (range, 7 months to 119 months). Median follow-up was 79 months (range, 4 months to 145 months). RESULTS: Fifty-two patients presented with locally advanced stage T2 tumors, and 30 patients had distant metastases at diagnosis. Patients received a median of eight cycles (range, four to nine cycles) of cisplatinum-based chemotherapy. Thirty-five patients underwent tumor resection at diagnosis and received adjuvant cisplatinum-based chemotherapy (group A). Thirty-one patients received up-front chemotherapy followed by delayed tumor resection (group B). Group B included more metastatic tumors than group A (group B, 19 of 31 patients; group A, 11 of 35 patients, P = .01). Preoperative chemotherapy facilitated complete tumor resections (group B, 20 of 31 patients; group A, five of 35 patients, P < .001) and avoided second-look surgery. Metastases at diagnosis and completeness of the first attempt of tumor resection were significant prognostic predictors; however, metastases were not predictive for patients treated with up-front chemotherapy. At 5 years follow-up, event-free survival was 0.76 ± 0.05 (50 of 66 patients), and overall survival was 0.81 ± 0.05 (54 of 66 patients). Four patients died as a result of therapy-related complications, and eight patients died of their tumors. Patients with locally advanced and metastatic tumors (T2b M1) fared better with neoadjuvant treatment [overall survival: 0.83 ± 0.09 (16 of 19 patients) versus 0.45 ± 0.15 (five of 11 patients), P = .01]. CONCLUSION: Even locally advanced and metastatic sacrococcygeal GCT can be successfully treated with up-front cisplatinum-based chemotherapy followed by delayed but complete tumor resection.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 396-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Fonseca ◽  
Caihong Xia ◽  
Armando J. Lorenzo ◽  
Mark Krailo ◽  
Thomas A. Olson ◽  
...  

PURPOSE To investigate relapse detection methods among children and adolescents with nongerminomatous malignant germ cell tumors (MGCTs) and to determine whether tumor markers alone might be sufficient for surveillance. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed all patients enrolled in a phase III, single-arm trial for low-risk and intermediate-risk MGCTs. The method used to detect relapse was assessed based on case report forms, tumor markers, imaging, and pathology reports. Relapses were classified into one of two categories on the basis of whether they were (1) detectable by tumor marker elevation or (2) not detectable by tumor markers. RESULTS A total of 302 patients were enrolled, and 284 patients had complete data for review. Seven patients had normal tumor markers at initial diagnosis, and none experienced a relapse. At a median follow-up of 5.3 years, 48 patients (16.9%) had experienced a relapse. After central review, 47 of 48 relapses (98%) were detected by tumor marker elevation. Of the 47 patients, 16 (33.3%) had abnormal tumor markers with normal/unknown imaging, 31 patients (64.6%) had abnormal tumor markers with abnormal imaging, and one patient (2.1%) had abnormal imaging with unknown marker levels at relapse. CONCLUSION Tumor marker elevation is a highly sensitive method of relapse surveillance, at least among children and adolescents with tumor marker elevation at initial diagnosis. Eliminating exposure to imaging with ionizing radiation may enhance the safety of relapse surveillance in patients treated for MGCT.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii333-iii333
Author(s):  
Lei Wen ◽  
Zhaoming Zhou ◽  
Qingjun Hu ◽  
Juan Li ◽  
Mingyao Lai ◽  
...  

Abstract PURPOSE Intracranial non-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCTs) have lower overall survival than germinoma because relatively higher recurrence usually occurs after first line therapy. METHODS Between January 2003 and December 2018, 111 consecutive patients diagnosed with NGGCTs reviewed. Those who progressed after first line therapy were included in this study. Data of first line treatment, salvage treatment, clinicopathological features and survival were collected and analyzed. RESULTS Totally, thirty patients (30/111, 27.0%) relapsed in our cohort, including 19 patients with accurate relapse information detail, and 11 patients who died of disease progression during follow up but without exact time and site of relapse. The median OS from diagnosis of the disease was 49.2 months (95% CI: 14.1 to 84.3 months) and 3-year OS was 54.3%. Patients who received both CSI and chemotherapy relapsed less than those who received reduced volume of radiotherapy or only CSI or only chemotherapy (22.5% vs. 45.5%, p=0.034). Of 19 patients who had detail information of recurrence time and site, the median time from diagnosis of disease to relapse was 9.5 months (2.2 to 72.1 months). Regarding to recurrence site, most patients relapsed in primary site (10/19, 52.6%) or distant intracranial (6/19, 31.6%). The recurrence site of other 3 patients were spinal (n=1), ventricular (n=1) and peritoneal (n=1). CONCLUSION Protracted follow-up is recommended because late recurrence is not uncommon. Primary tumor site and distant intracranial are the most prevalent relapsed location. Patients who relapsed could benefited from both CSI and salvage chemotherapy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii333-iii333
Author(s):  
Lei Wen ◽  
Juan Li ◽  
Qingjun Hu ◽  
Mingyao Lai ◽  
Cheng Zhou ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Limited data is available in intracranial nongerminomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCTs) in Chinese population. Here we aimed to retrospectively assess the clinical-pathological and prognostic factors of NGGCTs in a single large institution in China. METHODS From June 2003 to December 2018, 111 consecutive NGGCTs were treated in Guangdong Sanjiu Brain Hospital, China. RESULTS The median follow-up was 36.2 months (range, 1.2 to 131.2 months). Three-year EFS and OS for 111 NGGCTs patients were 78.5%±4.5% and 82.8%±4.0%, respectively. 98 patients received CSI plus boost yielded better survival than those who received reduced-volume radiotherapy or no radiotherapy (3y OS, 86.7% vs. 51.4%, p=0.007). Patients had at least four cycles of chemotherapy were strongly associated with improved 3-year OS, compared to those received less than 4 cycles (94.1% vs. 63.6%, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in survival of patients stratified by age, surgery, hydrocephalus, as well as tumor diameter. Multivariate analysis identified chemotherapy cycles less than 4 was the only prognostic factor that conferring a worse OS (p=0.003). Patients both received CSI and at least 4 courses of chemotherapy were correlated with lower incidence of relapse (p=0.044). CONCLUSIONS Multimodal approach including CSI and enough courses of chemotherapy was effective and should be recommended for the treatment of newly diagnosed NGGCTs in Chinese population.


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