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VAB‐3 combination chemotherapy of metastatic testicular cancer
Author(s) -
Reynolds Thomas F.,
Vugrin Davor,
Cvitkovic Esteban,
Cheng Edgar,
Braun David W.,
O'hehir Maureen A.,
Dukeman Mary E.,
Whitmore Willet F.,
Golbey Robert B.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19810815)48:4<888::aid-cncr2820480405>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - medicine , chemotherapy , vinblastine , testicular cancer , bleomycin , cancer , surgery , combination chemotherapy , performance status , disease , oncology
The initial response and long‐term follow‐up of 74 evaluable patients who received combination chemotherapy for metastatic nonseminomatous testicular cancer are reported. Patients were treated with a protocol (VAB‐3) including vinblastine, actinomycin‐D, bleomycin, and cis‐dichlorodiammine platinum (DDP). VAB‐3 alone caused complete remission (CR) in 54% (40/74) and partial remission (PR) in 26% (19/74). Five patients with less than CR to chemotherapy achieved CR following surgical excision of residual mature teratoma after starting VAB‐3 protocol, resulting in an overall CR rate of 61% (45/74). With a minimum follow‐up of 24+ months, and a median follow‐up of 35+ months for those still living, 45% (33/74) of the patients are living free of evidence of disease, 4% (3/74) are living with disease, and 51% (38/74) are dead. Response to VAB‐3 protocol was examined with respect to performance status, histology, prior therapy, extent of disease, tumor markers, and duration of disease from diagnosis. No one died because of toxicity of VAB‐3, and life‐threatening toxicity was uncommon. Long survival is significantly associated (P < 0.001) with achievement of CR. The treatment goal for metastatic testicular cancer is cure. The achievement of CR, using aggressive combination chemotherapy and surgery, is essential in reaching this goal.