Chemotherapy without irradiation--a novel approach for newly diagnosed CNS germ cell tumors: results of an international cooperative trial. The First International Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumor Study.

PURPOSE

Radiation therapy for CNS germ cell tumors (GCT) is commonly associated with neurologic sequelae. We designed a therapeutic trial to determine whether irradiation could be avoided.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients received four cycles of carboplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin. Those with a complete response (CR) received two further cycles; others received two cycles intensified by cyclophosphamide.

RESULTS

Seventy-one patients were enrolled (45 with germinoma and 26 with nongerminomatous GCT [NGGCT]). Sixty-eight were assessable for response. Thirty-nine of 68 (57%) achieved a CR within four cycles. Of 29 patients with less than a CR, 16 achieved CR with intensified chemotherapy or second surgery. Overall, 55 of 71 (78%) achieved a CR without irradiation. The CR rate was 84% for germinomas and 78% for NGGCT. With a median follow-up duration of 31 months, 28 of 71 patients were alive without relapse or progression. Thirty-five showed tumor recurrence (n = 28) or progression (n = 7) at a median of 13 months. Twenty-six of 28 patients (93%) who recurred following remission underwent successful salvage therapy. Pathology was the only variable predictive of survival. The probability of surviving 2 years was .84 for germinoma patients and .62 for NGGCT. Seven of 71 patients died of toxicity associated with study chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Forty-one percent of surviving patients and 50% of all patients were treated successfully with chemotherapy only without irradiation. Chemotherapy-only regimens for CNS GCT, although encouraging, should continue to be used only in the setting of formal clinical trials.