Open AccessSwiss germ-cell cancer consensus recommendations
Author(s) -
Jörg Beyer,
Dominik Berthold,
Peter-Karl Bode,
Richard Cathomas,
Christian Daniel Fankhauser,
Stefanie Fischer,
Silke Gillessen,
Tobias Gross,
Thomas Hermanns,
Friedemann Honecker,
Anja Lorch,
Aurelius Omlin,
Alexandros Papachristofilou,
Beat Roth,
Christian Rothermundt,
Roland Seiler,
Martin Spahn,
Frank Stenner,
Emanuel Bührer
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
schweizerische medizinische wochenschrift
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0036-7672
DOI - 10.4414/smw.2021.w30023
Subject(s) - medicine , expert opinion , referral , consensus conference , cancer , germ cell tumors , medline , intensive care medicine , adverse effect , family medicine , chemotherapy , political science , law
Approximately 420 men are diagnosed with germ-cell cancer (GCC) in Switzerland each year. Recent international guidelines outline management issues, but many aspects remain controversial in an area of highly individualised treatments. Even more than in other tumour types, in GCC the challenge is to choose exactly the correct treatment for an individual patient. Overtreatment in patients likely to be cured must be avoided to reduce long-term toxicities. On the other hand, treatment intensification is required in patients presenting with adverse prognostic factors. Therefore, referral to expert centres or consultations with an expert for a second opinion is strongly recommended. In 2020, Swiss experts discussed their strategies in a consensus meeting during the virtual Swiss Oncology and Haematology Congress (SOHC) in order to harmonise their concepts and to suggest optimal strategies for the management of GCC patients in Switzerland. Votes on controversial issues were obtained and are presented in this review wherever applicable.