Stage IV Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors
Dysgerminomas
Other Germ Cell Tumors
Current Clinical Trials
Dysgerminomas
Standard treatment options:
- For patients with stage IV dysgerminoma, total abdominal hysterectomy and
bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is recommended with removal of as much gross
tumor in the abdomen and pelvis as can be done safely without resection of
portions of the urinary tract or large segments of small or large bowel,
although unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy should be considered in patients who
wish to preserve fertility.[1,2] Chemotherapy with
bleomycin/etoposide/cisplatin (BEP) can cure the majority of such patients.
Stage IV dysgerminoma is not treated with radiation therapy, but rather with
chemotherapy, preferably with 3 to 4 courses of cisplatin-containing
combination chemotherapy such as BEP.[1] A second-look operation following
treatment is rarely beneficial.
Other Germ Cell Tumors
Standard treatment options:
- For patients with stage IV germ cell tumors other than pure dysgerminoma, total
abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is recommended with
removal of as much tumor from the abdomen and pelvis as can be done safely
without resection of kidney or large segments of small or large bowel.
Patients who wish to preserve fertility can be treated with unilateral
salpingo-oophorectomy. Following maximal surgical debulking, three to four courses of
cisplatin-containing combination chemotherapy are indicated.[3,4] For patients
with extensive intra-abdominal disease whose clinical condition precludes
debulking surgery, chemotherapy can be considered prior to surgery. Patients
who do not respond to a cisplatin/etoposide-based combination may still attain
a durable remission with VAC or cisplatin/vinblastine/ifosfamide as salvage
therapy.[4] Second-look surgery may be of benefit for a minority of patients
whose tumor was not completely resected at the initial surgical procedure and
who had teratomatous elements in their primary tumor.[5,6] Surgical resection
of residual masses detected by clinical examination, by radiographic
procedures, or at re-exploration should be undertaken since reversion to germ
cell tumor or progressive teratoma has been described.
Treatment options under clinical evaluation:
- Patients with stage IV germ cell tumors of the ovary (including pure
dysgerminoma) are candidates for clinical trials.
Current Clinical Trials
Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage IV ovarian germ cell tumor. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria.
General information about clinical trials is also available from the NCI Web site.
References
-
Williams SD, Blessing JA, Hatch KD, et al.: Chemotherapy of advanced dysgerminoma: trials of the Gynecologic Oncology Group. J Clin Oncol 9 (11): 1950-5, 1991.
[PUBMED Abstract]
-
Low JJ, Perrin LC, Crandon AJ, et al.: Conservative surgery to preserve ovarian function in patients with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors. A review of 74 cases. Cancer 89 (2): 391-8, 2000.
[PUBMED Abstract]
-
Gershenson DM, Morris M, Cangir A, et al.: Treatment of malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary with bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin. J Clin Oncol 8 (4): 715-20, 1990.
[PUBMED Abstract]
-
Williams SD, Blessing JA, Moore DH, et al.: Cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin in advanced and recurrent ovarian germ-cell tumors. A trial of the Gynecologic Oncology Group. Ann Intern Med 111 (1): 22-7, 1989.
[PUBMED Abstract]
-
Williams SD, Blessing JA, DiSaia PJ, et al.: Second-look laparotomy in ovarian germ cell tumors: the gynecologic oncology group experience. Gynecol Oncol 52 (3): 287-91, 1994.
[PUBMED Abstract]
-
Gershenson DM: The obsolescence of second-look laparotomy in the management of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors. Gynecol Oncol 52 (3): 283-5, 1994.
[PUBMED Abstract]
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