Combination salvage chemotherapy using cisplatin and teniposide for patients with refractory germinal testicular tumors.

Ten patients with refractory germ-cell tumors were treated with a chemotherapy regimen consisting of teniposide and cisplatin (VM-26 and CDDP; P-VM therapy). Three patients (30%) achieved a complete remission (CR) after chemotherapy alone, and another three subjects (30%) attained a CR following chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Three of the six complete responders relapsed but were rendered disease-free by re-salvage therapy. Among the responders, six patients (60%) are alive and remain disease-free after follow-up periods ranging from 18 to 84 months (median, 48 months). However, the toxicity of P-VM therapy was high, with severe myelosuppression being observed in nine patients; nevertheless, all side effects were reversible. We concluded that the P-VM regimen seems to be effective in the treatment of refractory testicular cancers.