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Biomedical subjects

H Akaza

Publications and source records attributed to H Akaza.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Phase II study of cis-diammine(glycolato)platinum, 254-S, in patients with advanced germ-cell testicular cancer, prostatic cancer, and transitional-cell carcinoma of the urinary tract. 254-S Urological Cancer Study Group.

A multicenter cooperative study was conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of cis-diammine(glycolato)platinum (254-S), a second-generation anticancer platinum complex, in the treatment of genitourinary cancers. 254-S was given i.v. at 100 mg/m2 at 4-week intervals. As a result, 2 complete responses (CRs) and 8 partial responses (PRs) were obtained in 35 patients with transitional-cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder or pyeloureter, 3 PRs were obtained in 16 subjects with prostatic cancer, and 6 CRs and 6 PRs were obtained in 15 patients with testicular cancer, generating objective response rates of 28.6% [95% confidence interval (CI), 14.6%-46.3%], 18.8% (95% CI, 4.0%-45.6%), and 80.0% (95% CI, 51.9%-95.7%), respectively. Bone marrow suppression was the dose-limiting toxicity, although it was reversible. Although no hydration was performed in approx. 40% of the patients, the incidence of nephrotoxic effects was low and most of those encountered were mild, the exception being one patient who showed severe renal insufficiency after the first treatment. Nausea and vomiting occurred in approx. 70% of the patients, but most gastrointestinal toxicities were controlled without antiemetic treatment. In addition, liver-function impairment was rarely observed. We conclude that 254-S is a promising cisplatin analogue for the treatment of genitourinary cancers and is worthy of further investigation in large-scale, randomized comparative studies with other platinum derivatives in both single-agent and combination regimens.

Adult↗

The 4th study of prophylactic intravesical chemotherapy with adriamycin in the treatment of superficial bladder cancer: the experience of the Japanese Urological Cancer Research Group for Adriamycin.

A multicentric randomised trial was conducted for the purpose of investigating the efficacy of intravesical chemoprophylaxis of superficial bladder cancers. A total of 443 patients (number of evaluable patients, 284) were registered from July 1987 to December 1989 and randomised into 3 groups. Group A received 21 intravesical instillations of Adriamycin (ADM) at 20 mg/40 ml physiological saline for 2 years after undergoing transurethral resection (TUR); group B was given the same dose as group A but received 6 intravesical instillations for 2 weeks before undergoing TUR; and group C served as a control and underwent TUR only. Better prophylactic effects were obtained in group A. The overall non-recurrence rates calculated for groups A and B differed significantly (P less than 0.05) on day 240, and those determined for groups A and C were also significantly different (P less than 0.01) on day 480. No benefit was obtained using intravesical instillation prior to TUR (group B). The major side effects encountered were pollakisuria and miction pain, which occurred in 32% of the patients in group A and in 52% of those in group B.

Administration, Intravesical↗

Long-term results of intravesical chemoprophylaxis of superficial bladder cancer: experience of the Japanese Urological Cancer Research Group for Adriamycin.

Long-term results were analyzed in terms of tumor progression and survival in patients with superficial bladder cancer who were enrolled in the second intravesical chemoprophylactic study of the Japanese Urological Cancer Research Group for Adriamycin, which was started in July 1982. This study was a prospective, randomized, controlled trial conducted on primary tumors treated with a long-term instillation regimen that involved control versus intravesical instillations of Adriamycin or mitomycin C given once a week for the first 2 weeks, once every other week for 14 weeks, once a month for 8 months, and once every 3 months for 1 year, for a total of 21 instillations in 2 years. An analysis of the prophylactic effects of such treatment on bladder tumors after TUR has previously been performed, and the results have been published elsewhere. The present study represents a follow-up of the above trial. Of the 671 cases previously analyzed with regard to tumor prophylaxis, 158 cases (23.5%) were eligible to be followed for tumor progression and survival. A detailed comparison of the background factors between these 158 patients and the other 513 cases revealed no statistically significant difference. Thus, the 158 evaluable cases might reasonably be considered to represent all patients enrolled in the second study, and the results were thought to be reasonable enough to reflect the long-term efficacy of the long-term instillation regimen adopted in this study. The median follow-up for these 158 cases was 6.6 years. Tumor progression in terms of the disease stage and/or grade occurred in 43 of 127 patients who received prophylactic instillations and in 12 of 31 control cases. No significant difference in the incidence of tumor progression was found between the treatment and the control groups. In addition, no difference in survival was observed between the treatment group and the control group. Survival was also compared between patients who showed tumor progression and those who did not. All patients whose tumors did not progress survived, whereas the 7-year survival of those exhibiting tumor progression was less than 90%.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Evaluation of systemic chemotherapy with methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, and cisplatin for advanced bladder cancer. The Japanese Urological Cancer Research Group for Adriamycin.

In a cooperative study of the Japanese Urological Cancer Research Group for Adriamycin, the usefulness of chemotherapy with methotrexate, vinblastine, Adriamycin, and cisplatin (M-VAC therapy) in treating advanced or recurrent bladder cancer was examined. Evaluation of the clinical responses obtained in 86 evaluable patients revealed 13 complete responses, 29 partial responses, 4 minor responses, 19 cases of no change, and 21 cases of progressive disease. The overall response rate was 48.8% (42/86). The rate of response to M-VAC therapy at each disease site was as low as 21.4% (3/14) in bone lesions but exceeded 40% in the primary lesion, the lymph nodes, the lung, the liver, and other lesions. The clinical response to M-VAC therapy was not significantly influenced by the performance status of the patients, the dose intensity, or previous therapy. The median duration of response for the 42 responders was 22.7 weeks (range, 8.1-134.1 weeks), and the median duration of survival for the 86 evaluable patients was 9.8 months. Side effects were frequently encountered; the patients experienced anorexia, nausea, vomiting, malaise, alopecia, and leukopenia, but all of these symptoms were tolerable.

Adult↗

Additive effects of antitumor drugs and lymphokine-activated killer cell cytotoxic activity in tumor cell killing determined by lactate-dehydrogenase-release assay.

The effect of pretreatment with antitumor drugs on lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell cytotoxic activity, determined by lactate-dehydrogenase(LDH)-release assay, was investigated. LAK cells were induced by incubating peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy donors in medium containing interleukin-2 (IL-2) and monoclonal anti-CD3 antibody for 6-7 days. A human lung squamous carcinoma cell line, SQ-5, was used as an adherent target. After 24 h exposure of the target cells to cisplatin, doxorubicin, or mitomycin C, the drugs were washed off and LAK cells were added at an E/T ratio of 5. During further incubation for 48 h, LDH release from cisplatin- or doxorubicin-pretreated target cells was markedly higher than that from non-pretreated target cells. The combination of cisplatin and LAK cells has an additive cytotoxic effect and that of mitomycin C and LAK cells does not; there may also be an additive effect late in the toxicity mechanism between doxorubicin and LAK cells.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Effect of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in patients receiving chemotherapy for urogenital cancer. Urological rhG-CSF Study Group.

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in patients with leukopenia after chemotherapy for urogenital cancers. Recombinant human G-CSF was administered at 100 micrograms./m.2 intravenously in 36 patients and at 75 micrograms. per body weight subcutaneously in 37 for 8 days after methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (M-VAC) therapy or for 14 days after other chemotherapies. Cycle 1 of chemotherapy was given without recombinant human G-CSF, while at cycle 2, recombinant human G-CSF was given additionally. Therefore, cycle 1 of the regimen served as a control to cycle 2 in each patient. An elevation in the median white blood cell nadir was noted: 1,500 versus 3,200 (intravenous) and 2,100 versus 3,200 (subcutaneous) on M-VAC therapy, and 1,800 versus 2,100 (intravenous) and 1,700 versus 2,500 (subcutaneous) on other chemotherapeutic regimens. A shortening of the leukopenic period was observed in cycle 2. There were no significant adverse side effects attributed to the use of recombinant human G-CSF. The results indicate that recombinant human G-CSF may be safely and effectively used against leukopenia after chemotherapy for urogenital cancer. This remedy will become useful for completion of the schedule and dose intensification of chemotherapy in the future. Subcutaneous administration is considered to be the more preferable route.

Adult↗

[Promotive effects of intravesical instillation of dimethylsulfoxide on bladder carcinogenesis in mice].

The effect of intravesical instillation of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on bladder carcinogenesis was examined in mice. Experiment 1: Fifty-five female C3H/He mice were administered 0.05% N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxy-butyl) nitrosamine (BBN) in their drinking water for 8 weeks. In week 9 they were divided into two groups consisting of 25 mice each. Then, under nembutal anesthesia the first group was given weekly intravesical inatillations of 0.1 ml DMSO (minimum 99.0%) for 10 weeks. The second group received no treatment except anesthesia. All mice were killed 30 weeks after the begining of the experiment and their urinary bladder resected for histological examination. The incidence of bladder carcinoma was 93.7% (15.16) and 27.7% (6/22) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. These incidences differed significantly between the two groups. Experiment 2: One hundred and twenty female C3H/He mice were divided into two groups. The first group was given 0.05% BBN in their drinking water for 5 weeks and then tap water. The second group was not given BBN. In week 6, the first group was divided again into three groups (1, 2 and 3) consisting of 28, 26, and 27 mice, respectively. The second group was divided into groups 4 and 5 consisting of 21 and 18 mice, respectively. Under nembutar anaesthesia groups 1 and 4 received weekly intravesical instillation of 0.05 ml DMSO (minimum 99.0%) from weeks 6 to 13, Group 2 received weekly intravesical instillation of 0.05 ml distilled water from weeks 6 to 13. Groups 3 and 5 received no treatment except anesthesia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Intravesical↗

[Effects of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist on bladder carcinogenesis in male rats].

In previous studies, it has been suggested that the suppression of testicular androgen had inhibits bladder carcinogenesis. In this study we investigated which phase of bladder carcinogenesis is inhibited by the hormonal change of the hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis induced by the depot form of the LH-RH agonist. All rats were treated with 0.05% BBN in tap water for 8 weeks and were observed for the following 16 weeks. They were divided into five groups. Group 1 (Control group); The LH-RH agonist was not administered. Group 2 (Initiation group); The LH-RH agonist (depot form) was administered subcutaneously two weeks before and after the initiation of the experiment. Group 3 (Promotion group); The LH-RH agonist (depot form) was subcutaneously administered at intervals of 4 weeks starting 6 weeks after the initiation of the experiment. Group 4 (Full term group); The LH-RH agonist (depot form) was administered subcutaneously at intervals of 4 weeks starting from 2 weeks before the initiation of the experiment. Group 5 (Castration group); Bilateral orchiectomy was performed one week before the beginning of the experiment. From our results, the followings were suggested, (1) more intensive inhibition of bladder carcinogenesis was observed in the group which received the LH-RH agonist (depot form), compared with the Castration group, (2) the bladder carcinogenesis was more intensively inhibited when the LH-RH analogue (depot from) was given in the promotion phase and (3) not only testosterone but also the regulatory system of the hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis is related to the bladder carcinogenesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

[Antitumor effect of combined use of purified human natural tumor necrosis factor (N-TNF) and cis-diamminedichoroplatinum (II) (cisplatin) on the implanted bladder carcinoma (MBT-2) in mice].

The antitumor effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in combination with Cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum (II) (Cisplatin) upon implanted bladder carcinoma (MBT-2) in mice was analysed together with the toxicity. Mice were implanted into the bladder wall with about 10(4) cells MBT-2 viable cells. TNF was the purified human natural tumor necrosis factor. The antitumor effects were evaluated by the volume of the tumor thus implanted and the drug-toxicity by the body weight of mice and microscopic as well as macroscopic findings of the main organs. As a result, 1) The toxicity of TNF to mice was not enhanced in a dose-dependent fashion when combined with Cisplatin. 2) The antitumor effect by combination of TNF and Cisplatin was significantly increased compared to control group. 3) The effects of TNF was enhanced in a dose-dependent fashion when combined with Cisplatin. 4) The antitumor effects was confirmed by pathological findings. These results suggest that the combined use of n-TNF and Cisplatin is promising as a clinically effective treatment against bladder cancer in human.

Animals↗

[Ablative and prophylactic effects of BCG Tokyo 172 strain for intravesical treatment in patients with superficial bladder cancer and carcinoma in situ of the bladder. Bladder cancer BCG Study Group].

We investigated the effects of intravesical instillation of BCG Tokyo 172 strain on patients with superficial bladder cancer and CIS of the bladder for tumor ablation and prophylaxis. This is the first controlled multicenter study for governmental approval of BCG Tokyo 172 strain for the treatment of superficial bladder cancer and CIS of the bladder. One hundred-fifty-seven patients (125 with Ta or T1, and 32 with CIS) were treated by 80 mg of BCG diluted in 40 ml of saline, once a week for 8 weeks. The dose and interval adopted in this multicenter study was determined by the previous Phase II study conducted by the same Study Group. Out of 125 superficial tumor Ta, T1, 83 (66.4%) showed complete disappearance of the tumor (CR) and 26 (20.8%) partial disappearance (PR), and out of 32 CIS, 27 (84.4%) showed CR and 2 (6.3%) PR. Among those patients showing CR, and PR who were treated with additional TUR-Bt, 98 patients were randomised for a controlled study of prophylactic BCG instillation. Prophylactic treatment consisted of 40 mg of BCG diluted in 40 ml of saline, monthly for 12 months. Forty-two patients were assigned to the treatment group, whereas the remaining 56 to the control group without any prophylactic instillation. Three cases showed tumor recurrence during the prophylactic phase. Twenty-five cases could not be treated for the whole course of prophylactic instillation mainly due to bladder irritable symptoms. Recurrent free curves were compared till 1050 days after the initiation of the study. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Intravesical↗

Comparison of various assay systems for prostate-specific antigen standardization.

To avoid confusion between serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values among various assay systems, clinical studies on the possibility of conversion among detection values were performed. The assay kits used for the PSA comparisons were MARKIT-F PA, MARKIT-M PA, EIKEN PA, PA test WAKO, Ball ELSA PSA, E-Test Tosoh II PA, PROS-CHECK PSA, DELFIA PSA and TANDEM-R PSA. Using each kit, the standards attached to each assay system were detected, and 142 sera samples from benign hypertrophies or prostate cancers were assayed for serum PSA values. By detecting the standards for each kit, slopes were obtained which were almost identical to those obtained from original assay system. The coefficients of correlation among the PSA detection systems, using patients' sera, were very high, and linear regression lines were also obtained. The results suggest that almost identical serum PSA values may be detected either by multiplying by a coefficient to bring it to the standard or using the conversion formula.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Combination therapy with natural type human tumor necrosis factor (MHR-24) and human lymphoblastoid interferon-alpha (MOR-22) against renal cell carcinoma--a multiclinic cooperative, early phase II study. Subcommittee on Urogenital Malignancy, Committee on MHR-24 against Tumors].

The combination therapy with natural type human tumor necrosis factor (n-TNF; MHR-24) and human lymphoblastoid interferon-alpha (n-IFN-alpha; MOR-22) was investigated for antitumor effect against renal cell carcinoma in a multiclinic cooperative study throughout Japan. The "Response criteria of Japan Society for Cancer Therapy" were followed for the handling of subjects and the evaluation of antitumor effect. MHR-24 was administered at a daily dosage of 5,000-10,000 JRU by intravenous drip and MOR-22 at a dosage of 5,000,000 IU daily was administered intramuscularly at the same time. Both drugs were administered for 4 weeks or longer. A total of 36 patients were enrolled as subjects in the study. None of them were classified as ineligible. Five patients, were classified as imperfectly evaluable, and 31, as evaluable for the results of treatment. The responses in the evaluable patients were partial response (PR) in 4 patients, minor response (MR) in 3 patients, no change (NC) in 14 patients and progressive disease (PD) in 10 patients, with a response rate of 12.9%. Adverse reactions to the therapy were investigated in all 36 patients. The frequent subjective and objective reactions that occurred were fever, rigors and shivering, anorexia, and generalized malaise, and the frequent abnormal laboratory findings were leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, elevation of GOT, and elevation of GPT.

Aged↗

Long-term clinical study on luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonist depot formulation in the treatment of stage D prostatic cancer. The TAP-144-SR Study Group.

The results of long-term administration of leuprorelin acetate depot (TAP-144-SR), a sustained-release preparation of luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonist, to 40 stage D prostate cancer patients who had had no previous hormonal therapy, have been analyzed. The drug was administered by subcutaneous injection once every four weeks at a dose of 3.75 or 7.5 mg. The mean duration of treatment was 480 (141-1,266) days, and treatment continued for more than one year for 60% of the 40 patients. Objective response was evaluated in accordance with Japanese Response Criteria. The best objective response in the overall evaluation was a partial response in 68.6% of the total patient group (3.75 mg, 64.3%; 7.5 mg, 71.4%). During the administration period, 21 patients were diagnosed as having progressive disease (PD), and the mean time to onset of PD was 308 days. The earliest diagnoses of PD were made on bone metastases (17 cases) and prostatic acid phosphatase levels (12 cases). The survival rate, as determined by Kaplan-Meier's method, was 81.2% (3.75 mg, 80.5%; 7.5 mg, 81.3%) two years after starting the regimen and 66.0% (3.75 mg, 65.1%; 7.5 mg, 66.0%) after three years. There was no dose dependency between either of the two drug doses, which we adopted as functions of the objective response rate, and patients' survival. Serum levels of testosterone, LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were monitored from the first-dose until the 148th week of administration. In all patients receiving the drug as scheduled, the testosterone level was maintained at less than 1 ng/ml, and the LH and FSH levels were maintained at levels lower than their respective upper normal limits. There were no particular adverse reactions specific to the long-term administration subsequent to the foregoing 12-week administration study. In conclusion, LH-RH analogue treatment is thought to be a long-lasting, effective, palliative measure for patients with previously-untreated, advanced, prostatic cancer.

Aged↗

Stimulatory effects of growth hormone on rat bladder carcinogenesis.

The authors investigated the influences of recombinant human growth hormone (rh-GH) on rat urinary bladder carcinogenesis induced with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN). Rats belonging to the control group (Group I, n = 19) were given 0.05% BBN in drinking water for 9 weeks, and the bladder was excised on the 22nd week after the initiation of BBN administration and inspected. All animals developed visible tumors in the bladder. The mean number of tumors per bladder was 11.26 +/- 5.21, and the mean total volume of tumors per bladder was 126.1 +/- 212.7 microliters. In all but one of the experimental groups (Group V) and in the control group, all animals developed visible tumors in the bladder. When 0.5 units of rh-GH was injected subcutaneously once a week from the week 1 through the week 6 (Group II; n = 20), the mean number of tumors and mean total volume of the tumors were 12.15 +/- 6.59 and 206.6 +/- 318.0 microliters, respectively. When the administration period of rh-GH was changed to between week 7 through the week 12 (Group III; n = 19), the mean number of tumors and mean total volume of the tumors were 16.95 +/- 7.07 and 204.5 +/- 317.7 microliters, respectively. When rh-GH was administered from the week 13 through the week 18 (Group IV; n = 19), the respective values were 16.79 +/- 10.75 and 213.4 +/- 274.6 microliters. In Group V (n = 19), which received only rh-GH from week 1 through the week 6, no tumors were detected. There were statistically significant differences in the mean tumor numbers between Groups I and III, Groups I and IV, and Groups II and III. The mean volume of individual tumor was the greatest in Group II, although the differences were not statistically significant in comparison with the other groups. Histologically, all tumors were transitional cell carcinoma in every group. There were no statistically significant differences in distributions of tumor stage and tumor grade between any groups. These findings suggest that rh-GH enhances the promotion of carcinogenesis of chemically induced rat urinary bladder cancer. It will be necessary to elucidate whether this effect of rh-GH is expressed by the somatostatin hypothesis of GH action, its direct action, or some other mechanisms.

Animals↗

Effect of recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rG-CSF) on chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in patients with urogenital cancer.

The effects of recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rG-CSF) on the myelosuppression, especially neutropenia, induced by cancer chemotherapy in patients with urogenital cancer were investigated in a randomized, controlled clinical study. In this study, rG-CSF was given subcutaneously at a dose of 2 micrograms/kg per day for 14 consecutive days. Changes in neutrophil counts were compared between the first (no rG-CSF) and second cycles (rG-CSF treatment period) of chemotherapy. rG-CSF administration was found to be effective in reducing the duration of neutropenia, in elevating the neutrophil nadir, and in reducing recovery time. Based on comparisons between the randomized rG-CSF treatment group (with rG-CSF) and the control group, treatment with rG-CSF resulted in the moderation or prevention of neutropenia and the acceleration of recovery. These results demonstrate that in chemotherapy of patients with urogenital cancer, in which neutropenia is a dose- or schedule-limiting factor, the concomitant use of rG-CSF may enable an increase in the dose (higher single dose or increased dose per unit of time) or shorten the chemotherapy period.

Adolescent↗

[Treatment of renal cell carcinoma with human lymphoblastoid interferon alpha and UFT in combination. A prospective multicenter trial].

A cooperative study of combination of UFT (a compound of FT and Uracil) and human lymphoblastoid interferon (IFN-alpha) was conducted in the cases of metastatic renal cell cancer. IFN-alpha was administered over 3 times a week at a dose of 3 X 10(6) units in combination with UFT at a daily dose of 600 mg FT equivalent. Twenty-eight patients from 16 collaborating institutions were the subjects of the present study. The antitumor effects of the drugs were clinically evaluable in 25 cases according to the response criteria of Japan Society for Cancer Therapy. Complete responses and partial responses were observed in 3 and 2 cases, respectively, showing a response rate of 20 per cent. One complete responder had bone and liver metastases and has been alive for more than 2 years without any evidence of relapse. All of the other responders had lung metastasis. The survival durations of the other two complete responders were 716 days and 255 days. The two partial responders had been alive for more than 819 days and 471 days. The adverse effects of this combination therapy were minimal. Combination of a biological response modifier and a cancer chemotherapeutic agent seems to be a way to increase the treatment efficacy of renal cell cancer.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[Intra-arterial cisplatin and concurrent radiation for invasive bladder cancer].

Fifteen patients with invasive bladder cancer were treated with selective intra-arterial cisplatin and external beam radiotherapy (30.6 Gy over 3 weeks) prior to a planned cystectomy. Cisplatin, in total 200 mg, was administered via bilateral internal iliac artery infusion during the course of radiotherapy. Seven patients were evaluated for local response. Partial response (PR) was revealed in 4, and minor response (MR) in 3. Ten patients received total cystectomy, and pathological effects by the criteria adipted by Japanese Urological Association and The Japanese Society of Pathology, were as follows: Ef. 3 in 1 case, Ef. 2 in 6. Ef. 1b in 1 and Ef. 1a in 2. Down staging was observed in 8 patients from the clinical to the pathological stage. Thirteen patients are alive for 21 months. Two patients have died (1 lung infarction, 1 pancreatic cancer). Though nausea and sciatica-like pain were observed in some cases, there was no severe systemic side effects such as bone marrow suppression and renal toxicity. From these results it is concluded that this therapeutic modality could be effective in the preoperative work-up of candidates for total cystectomy, and also that it could be useful in the treatment of patients in whom total cystectomy is contraindicated.

Aged↗

[A randomized trial of PVB, VAB-6, BVP regimen versus PEB chemotherapy in patients with disseminated testicular tumors].

During 2 years and 7 months from June, 1985 to December, 1987, a randomized multi-center trial of PVB, VAB-6, BVP regimen (group A) without etoposide versus PEB chemotherapy (bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatinum) (group B) was given to patients with disseminated testicular tumors. Of 34 patients registered, 10 patients were with minimal disease in stages IIA, IIIO and IIIA and 24 with extensive disease in IIB, IIIB2 and IIIC. Seminomas were found in 10 patients, while non-seminomatous tumors in 24. Among groups A and B, there was no statistical difference in clinicopathological profiles. A group patients were given either PVB, VAB-6 or BVP according to the physician's discretion. In groups A and B, 35% and 43% of the patients achieved complete response, and 45% and 50% achieved partial response, respectively. The difference in CR rates among both groups was not statistically significant even when calculated according to the stage or histologic grouping. Salvage treatments mainly with surgical resection of residual tumors after the chemotherapy, however, were more successful in group B (88%) than group A (61%). It appears likely that the higher response of induction chemotherapy in patients with extensive disease made the salvage surgery more successful in group B than in group A. The 3 year survival rate was 100% in group B, whereas it was 76% in group A. Although the incidence of myelosuppression and alopecia was significantly higher in group B, neuropathy was significantly more frequent in group A. From the above results, PEB seems to be a better induction chemotherapy than the conventional one for advanced testicular tumors.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗