[Results of the randomised phase III study of the German Testicular Cancer Study Group. Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy versus one cycle BEP as adjuvant therapy for non-seminomatous testicular tumours in clinical stage I].

OBJECTIVE

As 30% of non-seminomas in clinical stage I will progress during active surveillance, alternative adjuvant strategies of 2 cycles of bleomycin, etoposid, cisplatin (BEP) or nerve sparing retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy (RPLND) can be offered. The risk of relapse is reduced to 2% and 10%, respectively. Without prognostic markers and with lowered toxicity it is postulated that only one cycle of BEP could significantly reduce the recurrence rate in comparison to RPLND.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 1996 and 2005, 382 patients were randomly assigned to receive either RPLND (n=191) or 1 cycle of BEP (n=191). In accordance with the protocol, 174 patients were treated with 1 cycle of BEP and 173 underwent RPLND. The primary study end-point was a reduction of recurrence from 10% after RPLND to a maximum of 3% after 1 cycle of BEP.

RESULTS

After a mean follow-up of 4.7 years, there were 2 and 13 recurrences in the according-to-protocol population with chemotherapy and surgery, respectively. The difference between chemotherapy (1.15%) and surgery (7.5%) was statistically significant (p=0.0033). The tumor-specific survival was 100%.

CONCLUSION

This largest randomized trial investigating treatment strategies in clinical stage I non-seminomas (AUO AH 01/94) showed the superiority of one cycle BEP over RPLND. The data obtained represent the basis for a reduced chemotherapy.