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. 2010 Apr;4(2):e19–e38. doi: 10.5489/cuaj.815

Table 8.

Summary of randomized studies in advanced germ cell tumours

Author Year Risk stratification No. patients Treatment Results
Good-risk patients
Bosl106 1988 MSKCC 164 EP × 4
VABcCy × 4
No difference
EP less toxic
Einhorn98 1989 Indiana 184 BEP × 3
BEP × 4
No difference
BEP × 3 less toxic
de Wit99 2001 MRC/EORTC 812 BEP × 3
BEP × 4
No difference
BEP × 3 less toxic
5 days less toxic vs. 3 days
Culine100 2007 Institut Gustave Roussy 262 BEP × 3
EP × 4
Equivalent RR
Survival underpowered
Role of bleomycin in good-risk patients
Levi194 1993 AGCTG 218 PVP
VP
Equivalent RR but less cancer deaths with PVB
Loehrer105 1995 Indiana 171 BEP × 3
EP × 3
BEP × 3 superior
de Wit195 1997 IGCCC 395 BE360P × 4
E360P × 4
BE360P × 4 superior
Culine100 2007 Institut Gustave Roussy 262 BEP × 3
EP × 4
Equivalent RR
Survival underpowered
Role of carboplatin
Bajorin103 1993 MSKCC Good Risk 265 EP × 4
E Carbo × 4
EP × 4 superior
Horowich102 1997 MRC/EORTC Good Risk 598 BE360P × 4
BE360Carbo × 4
BE360P × 4 superior
Intermediate and poor risk
Nichols108 1998 Indiana Advanced (= IGCCC-intermediate and poor) 304 BEP × 4
VIP × 4
No difference
BEP × 4 less toxic
de Wit110 1998 IGCCC (good, intermediate, poor) 84 BEP × 4
VIP × 4
No difference (closed early)
Droz112 2007 IGCCC (intermediate, poor) 114 PVeB × 4
HDCT
No difference
Motzer111 2007 IGCCC (intermediate, poor) 219 BEP × 4
HDCT
No difference

MSKCC = Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; EP = etoposide and cisplatin; VABcCy = vinblastine + bleomycin + cisplatin + cyclophosphamide + dactinomycin;

BEP = bleomycin, etoposide, platinum; RR = response rate; MRC = Mediacl Research Council; EORTC = European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer;

AGCTG = Australasian Germ Cell Trial Group; IGCCC = International Germ Cell Consensus Classification; PVP = polyvinylpyrrolidone; VP = etoposide ; E Carbo = etoposide and carboplatin;

BE Carbo = bleomycin, etoposide and carboplatin; VIP = cisplatin; PVB = cisplatin [platinol-AQ], vinblastine, bleomycin.