First-line combination chemotherapy with cisplatin, etoposide and ifosfamide for the treatment of disseminated germ cell cancer: re-evaluation in the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor era

Abstract

Background: This study re-evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of cisplatin, etoposide, and ifosfamide (VIP) combination chemotherapy as an alternative first-line regimen for patients with disseminated germ cell cancer (GCC) in this granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) era.

Methods: The medical records of 91 consecutive patients with previously untreated disseminated GCC who received first-line VIP between 1995 and 2011 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: The 5-year overall survival rates for patients with good (n = 49), intermediate (n = 22) and poor (n = 20) prognoses according to the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group classification were 100, 79 and 83%, respectively. G-CSF was given to all patients, and no treatment-related deaths due to myelosuppression occurred.

Conclusion: The present study is the first to examine the therapeutic outcomes and safety profile of first-line VIP after routine G-CSF use. VIP might be an alternative first-line regimen for patients with disseminated GCC in this G-CSF era.