Cisplatin, vincristine, methotrexate, peplomycin, etoposide (COMPE) therapy for disseminated germ cell testicular tumors.

BACKGROUND

The advent of cisplatin rendered disseminated testicular germ cell tumor an often curable malignant disease. Patients with a heavy metastatic burden, however, remain poor risks; furthermore, many patients experience nausea or other adverse events. This paper reports a trial of a cisplatin-based (COMPE) combination chemotherapy regimen based on synchronization theory.

METHODS

Twenty patients with disseminated germ cell testicular tumors were treated with COMPE; any residual tumor mass was surgically resected.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients (85%) achieved complete remission by chemotherapy. The actuarial overall and cause-specific 3-year survival rates were 89% and 94%, respectively. In the subset of 16 "good-risk" patients, all remain alive after a median follow-up of 43 months. Complications were quite tolerable, with nephrotoxicity in particular being extremely mild.

CONCLUSIONS

COMPE is an effective chemotherapy regimen in patients with disseminated germ cell testicular tumors. Complications arising from this therapy are mild.