mesna and Teratoma

Primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) have a worse prognosis than gonadal germ cell tumors (GCTs). Malignant transformation of teratomatous components of GCT to a somatic malignancy is rare. We present a case of primary mediastinal NSGCT with malignant transformation of a teratoma in an active duty airman who presented with a 12-cm anterior mediastinal mass and vertebral body lesion. Pathology confirmed NSGCT with yolk sac and teratomatous components. Chemotherapy for GCT normalized serum tumor markers with little effect on the mediastinal mass. Incomplete resection of the residual tumor revealed high-grade mixed sarcoma. Serum tumor markers rose 3 months following resection with metastatic disease to bone and liver. Chemotherapy targeting sarcoma induced a partial response, but the patient developed acute myeloid leukemia refractory to chemotherapy. We discuss our approach to management of this complicated patient.

Topics: Adult; Dacarbazine; Doxorubicin; Fatal Outcome; Humans; Ifosfamide; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Mediastinal Neoplasms; Mesna; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Teratoma

Twenty-one patients with refractory germ cell tumors were treated with a chemotherapy regimen containing etoposide (VP-16) (V) 75 mg/m2/day (days 1 to 5), ifosfamide (I) 3 g/m2/day (days 1 and 2) with a 3.6 g/m2 continuous infusion of mesna (days 1 and 2), and high-dose cisplatin (hP) 40 mg/m2/day (days 1 to 5). The regimen is referred to as VIhP. Nineteen patients were evaluable for response. Five patients (26%) achieved a complete remission (CR) with chemotherapy alone, and three patients (16%) were in CR after resection of a residual nonactive tumoral mass (e.g., necrosis and/or fibrosis and/or mature teratoma). Thus, a CR rate of 42% was achieved with the entire treatment. One additional patient achieved a CR after resection of active, bulky disease. Among the responders, five patients (26%) are still alive and disease-free at 6, 7, 9, 10, and 18 months after the initiation of the chemotherapy. However, toxicity was heavy in this protocol. Severe myelosuppression was observed with 10 patients developing aplasia and six patients documented sepsis. Reversible Grade 1-2 renal toxicity occurred in 14 patients, and Grade 2-3 peripheral neurotoxicity occurred in six patients. No hemorrhagic cystitis was encountered. We conclude that a VIhP regimen seems to play an active role in refractory germ cell tumors although the presence of high-dose cisplatin in this regimen does not appear to improve the response rate compared to that of a conventional dose. Toxicity, which seems to be enhanced, is currently under detailed study. However, the contribution of VIhP as a first-line treatment in poor prognosis, advanced germ cell tumors warrants further study.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Choriocarcinoma; Cisplatin; Etoposide; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Humans; Ifosfamide; Kidney Diseases; Leukopenia; Male; Mesna; Mesonephroma; Nausea; Sepsis; Teratoma; Testicular Neoplasms