[Advanced non-seminoma germinal tumors of the testicle. Therapeutic strategy and method of action of chemotherapy].

Among 39 patients with advanced non-seminoma germinal cell tumors of the testicle treated between 1978 and 1985 at the Val de Grâce Army Hospital, 27 previously untreated patients had chemotherapy followed in every case by surgical removal of residual growths; 23 of these patients (85%) are in complete remission; the remaining four had progression of their disease, with a fatal outcome in three. The subsequent therapy depends upon the results of histologic examination of the residual growths: simple monitoring, or a second course of chemotherapy, the modalities of which are controversial. In addition, on the basis of evidence found upon histologic studies, one can speculate as to the part played by chemotherapy in the histologic transformation of residual growths.