[Progress in the therapy of testicular teratoid tumors].

Based on combination chemotherapy with vinblastine, bleomycin, cisplatin, ifosfamide, etoposide and adriamycin--these appear to be the most active agents--complete remissions between 60 and 70% of all patients with disseminated testicular teratomas appear realistic. Extent of disease, distribution and localization of metastases, patterns of specific markers such as alpha fetoprotein and beta-HCG, and the general condition of the patient at initiation of therapy determine the final prognosis. It appears most important that induction chemotherapy needs to be as intensive as possible: individualized doses and short intervals should be used initially despite some toxicity associated with this approach. In regional disease, four to six courses of adjuvant chemotherapy after lymphadenectomy have yielded cure rates as high as 95% (Stage II A) and 70% (Stage II B), respectively.