Primary chemotherapy in the management of low stage (IIA and IIB) non-seminomatous germ cell testicular tumours

In a prospective study a total of 65 patients in clinical stages IIA and IIB non-seminomatous testicular tumours were treated by primary chemotherapy followed by retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in cases with residual disease. The patients were given a combination of cisplatin, vinblastine and bleomycin, or also etoposide. Sixty-two patients (95.4%) achieved complete response: 39 (60%) by chemotherapy alone and 23 (35.4%) following surgical removal of residual disease. Three patients died; there were two drug-related deaths during PVB chemotherapy, one patient had progression of disease following chemotherapy and died as a result of disease dissemination.