[Improved prognosis of intracranial germ cell tumors by intensified therapy: results of the MAKEI 89 therapy protocol].

Germ cell tumors of the central nervous system are histological identical to the extracranial tumor sites. According to the localisation germ cell tumors of the CNS are different in symptoms, diagnostic approaches, kind and location of metastases and stratification of therapy. Since 1986 patients with intracranial germ cell tumors are registered in the ongoing study for non-testicular germ cell tumors (MAKEI) of the German Society of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, and are treated in accordance to therapy guidelines for extracranial sites. In MAKEI 89 therapy strategy was revised with a reduction of radiotherapy and an increased cumulative cisplatinum dose from 200 mg/m2 to 400 mg/m2. Patients with germinoma receive after histologic diagnosis radiotherapy consisting of 30 Gy craniospinal irradiation and 15 Gy tumorboost. Malignant non-germinoma receive after diagnosis by tumor marker in CSF and/or serum 2 courses bleomycin 15 mg/m2 day 1-3, Etoposide 150 mg/m2 day 1 + 2 and cisplatinum 20 mg/m2 days 4-8 (BEP), continued by 2 courses Vinblastine 3 mg/m2 day 1 + 2, Ifosfamide 1500 mg/m2 days 1-5 and cisplatinum 20 mg/m2 days 1-5 (VIP), followed by 30 Gy craniospinal irradiation and 20 Gy tumor boost. In teratoma first line therapy is complete resection. In incomplete resected cases adjuvant chemotherapy according to histological grading is administered. Until 31st January, 1993 101 patients (pts) were registered, containing 69 protocol pts. Diagnosis in protocol pts was teratoma in 8 cases, 2 pts died postnatal because of extended disease, 2/8 pts relapsed, but were salvaged by chemotherapy. 40 pts offered germinomas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)