Controlled Pilot Study with Combination Chemotherapy in Testicular Carcinomas

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In 24 previously untreated patients with advanced testicular carcinoma, the combination of adriamycin, vincristine and methotrexate (AVM) was tested in a prospective randomized study against a combination of non-cross resistant drugs including vinblastine, bleomycin and mithramycin (VBM). Complete and partial (> 50 %) remission was observed in 4 out of 13 patients treated with AVM and in 3 out of 11 given VBM. In one patient receiving AVM and in two patients treated with VBM, the response at the level of previous inoperable retroperitoneal metastatic lymph nodes allowed a subsequent radical lymph node dissection. After cross-over a partial response for 6 months was obtained in only one patient treated with VBM while none was observed in 4 patients receiving AVM. Both combinations were well tolerated. However, their therapeutic activity seems to be definitely lower with respect to treatment with vinblastine followed by continuous infusion with bleomycin.