Publications (14)145.53 Total impact
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Article: Prognostic impact of LDH levels in patients with relapsed/refractory seminoma.
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ABSTRACT: PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of age and LDH levels in patients with relapsed seminoma. METHODS: Data on the 204 seminoma from the International Prognostic Factor Study Group (IPFSG) were analyzed. All patients experienced unequivocal relapse/progression after at least three cisplatin-based chemotherapy cycles. Age and LDH at relapse were assessed in addition to previously identified prognostic factors for all germ cell tumor patients from the database (J Clin Oncol 28:4906, 2010). RESULTS: The impact of the IPFSG score remained highly significant in multivariate analysis. In addition, LDH ≥1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) was significant in univariate (HR 1.96; CI 1.06-3.61) and multivariate analysis (HR 1.90; CI 1.00-3.62). Age, however, was not significant. Therefore, LDH was incorporated into a modified new IPFSG seminoma score by moving patients to the next unfavorable group for patients with LDH values ≥1.5 × ULN. Three prognostic groups were thus generated, which better subdivided seminoma patients than the original IPFSG score. Progression-free survival at 2 years: "very low risk" (n = 23) 85.7 % (95 % CI 62-95), "low risk" (n = 44) 62.7 % (95 % CI 46-75) and "intermediate risk" (n = 36) 35.1 % (95 % CI 20-51). Overall survival at 3 years: "very low risk" 88.8 % (95 % CI 62-97), "low risk" 71.3 % (95 % CI 55-83) and "intermediate risk" 51.3 % (95 % CI 33-67). CONCLUSION: The addition of LDH, but not age, improves the impact of the IPFSG prognostic score in seminoma patients relapsing or progressing after cisplatin-based chemotherapy.Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology 05/2013; · 2.56 Impact Factor -
Article: Sequential versus single high-dose chemotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory germ cell tumors: long-term results of a prospective randomized trial.
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate the long-term survival rates in patients with relapsed or refractory germ cell tumors (GCTs) after single or sequential high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT). Between November 1999 and November 2004, 211 patients with relapsed or refractory GCT were randomly assigned to treatment with either one cycle of cisplatin 100 mg/m(2), etoposide 375 mg/m(2), and ifosfamide 6 g/m(2) (VIP) plus three cycles of high-dose carboplatin 1,500 mg/m(2) and etoposide 1,500 mg/m(2) (CE, arm A) or three cycles of VIP plus one cycle of high-dose carboplatin 2,200 mg/m(2), etoposide 1,800 mg/m(2), and cyclophosphamide 6,400 mg/m(2) (CEC, arm B) followed by autologous stem-cell reinfusion. Long-term progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) 6 years after random assignment of the last patient were compared by using the log-rank test. Overall, 108 and 103 patients were randomly assigned to arms A and B, respectivelyl. The study was stopped prematurely because of excess treatment-related mortality in arm B (14%) compared with that in arm A (4%; P = .01). As of December 2010, nine (5%) of 211 patients were lost to follow-up; 94 (45%) of 211 are alive and 88 (94%) of 94 patients are progression free. Five-year PFS is 47% (95% CI, 37% to 56%) in arm A and 45% (95% CI, 35% to 55%) in arm B (hazard ratio [HR], 1.16; 95% CI, 0.79 to 1.70; P = .454). Five-year OS is 49% (95% CI, 40% to 59%) in arm A and 39% (95% CI, 30% to 49%) in arm B (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 0.99 to 2.05; P = .057). Patients with relapsed or refractory GCT achieve durable long-term survival after single as well as sequential HDCT. Fewer early deaths related to toxicity translated into superior long-term OS after sequential HDCT.Journal of Clinical Oncology 01/2012; 30(8):800-5. · 18.37 Impact Factor -
Article: Late relapse of germ cell tumors.
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ABSTRACT: This article highlights relevant aspects of the rare late relapses of malignant germ cell tumors (MGCTs), which by definition occur at least 2 years after successful treatment. In most reports, 1% to 6% of patients with MGCT experience a late relapse. Surgery is the most important part in the treatment of late relapses. Viable MGCT or teratoma with malignant transformation may require multimodal treatment with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or surgery. Salvage chemotherapy should be based on a representative biopsy. Referring patients with late relapse to high-volume institutions ensures the best chances of cure and enables multimodal treatment.Hematology/oncology clinics of North America 06/2011; 25(3):615-26, x. · 2.05 Impact Factor -
Article: Conventional-dose versus high-dose chemotherapy as first salvage treatment in male patients with metastatic germ cell tumors: evidence from a large international database.
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ABSTRACT: Conventional-dose chemotherapy (CDCT) and high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) may both be successfully used as salvage treatment for patients with metastatic germ cell tumors (GCTs) who experience progression with first-line treatment. Data on 1,984 patients with GCTs who experienced progression after at least three cisplatin-based cycles and were treated with either cisplatin-based CDCT or carboplatin-based HDCT chemotherapy were collected from 38 centers or groups worldwide. Of 1,984 patients, 1,594 (80%) were eligible, and among the eligible patients, 1,435 (90%) could reliably be classified into one of the following five prognostic categories based on prior prognostic classification: very low (n = 76), low (n = 257), intermediate (n = 646), high (n = 351), and very high risk (n = 105). Within each of the five categories, the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) after CDCT and HDCT were compared using the Cox model adjusted for significant distributional differences between important variables. Overall, 773 patients received CDCT, and 821 patients received HDCT. Both treatment modalities were used with similar frequencies within each prognostic category. The hazard ratio for PFS was 0.44 (95% CI, 0.39 to 0.51) stratified on prognostic category, and the hazard ratio for OS was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.56 to 0.75), favoring HDCT. These results were consistent within each prognostic category except among low-risk patients, for whom similar OS was observed between the two treatment groups. This retrospective analysis suggests a benefit from HDCT given as intensification of first salvage treatment in male patients with GCTs and emphasizes the need for another prospective randomized trial comparing CDCT to HDCT in this patient population.Journal of Clinical Oncology 03/2011; 29(16):2178-84. · 18.37 Impact Factor -
Article: Interdisciplinary evidence-based recommendations for the follow-up of early stage seminomatous testicular germ cell cancer patients.
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ABSTRACT: To provide guidance regarding follow-up procedures after initial treatment of early stage testicular seminoma (clinical stages (CS) I-II A/B) based on current published evidence complemented by expert opinion. An interdisciplinary, multinational working group consisting of urologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists analyzed the published evidence regarding follow-up procedures in various stages of seminomatous and nonseminomatous testicular cancers. Focusing on radiooncological aspects, the recommendations contained herein are restricted to early stage seminoma (with radiotherapy being a standard treatment option). In particular, extent, frequency, and duration of imaging at follow-up were analyzed concerning relapse patterns, risk factors, and mode of relapse detection. Active surveillance, adjuvant carboplatin or radiotherapy are equally accepted options for CS I seminoma but they result in different relapse rates and patterns. Usually relapses occur within the first 2(-6) years. Routinely performed follow-up using computerized tomography (CT) after adjuvant treatment yield only low detection rates of recurrences. Therefore, there is no evidence to maintain routine examinations every 3-4 months. After treatment of stage IIA/B, detection rates of relapses or progression identified solely by routinely performed CT during follow-up are low. Considering lifelong cure rates of up to 99% for patients treated for seminoma CS I-IIA/B, the negative impact of unnecessary ionizing radiation exposure has to be considered. The presented recommendations for various follow-up scenarios for early stage seminoma strongly promote the restrictive use of imaging procedures that utilize ionizing radiation (especially CT), due to its potential to induce secondary malignancies.Strahlentherapie und Onkologie 02/2011; 187(3):158-66. · 3.56 Impact Factor -
Article: Interdisciplinary evidence-based recommendations for the follow-up of testicular germ cell cancer patients.
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ABSTRACT: Over the last years, clear treatment recommendations for patients with testicular cancer have been published. This has led to significant improvements in outcome and survival. Moreover, active surveillance has become a cornerstone in the management of clinical stage I seminomatous and non-seminomatous germ cell tumors. On the other hand, the existing recommendations for the follow-up of testis cancer patients are unclear and differ widely. Follow-up recommendations in this young patient population have to be as evidence based as possible, feasible in order to ensure adherence, and must not be harmful. Therefore, attention has to be paid to the negative impact of unnecessary radiation exposure. Recently, new evidence became available regarding the relapse pattern of different disease stages of testicular cancer, the use of imaging at follow-up, and the risks of excessive radiation due to imaging, and in particular that of computed tomography (CT) scans. This article summarizes the recommendations for follow-up of testicular cancer patients of an interdisciplinary multinational working group consisting of urologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists.Onkologie 01/2011; 34(1-2):59-64. · 0.87 Impact Factor -
Article: [Solid tumors in young patients].
Onkologie 01/2011; 34 Suppl 5:12-6. · 0.87 Impact Factor -
Article: Prognostic factors in patients with metastatic germ cell tumors who experienced treatment failure with cisplatin-based first-line chemotherapy.
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ABSTRACT: To develop a prognostic model in patients with germ cell tumors (GCT) who experience treatment failure with cisplatin-based first-line chemotherapy. Data from 1,984 patients with GCT who progressed after at least three cisplatin-based cycles and were treated with cisplatin-based conventional-dose or carboplatin-based high-dose salvage chemotherapy was retrospectively collected from 38 centers/groups worldwide. One thousand five hundred ninety-four (80%) of 1,984 eligible patients were randomly divided into a training set of 1,067 patients (67%) and a validation set of 527 patients (33%). Seminomas were set aside for posthoc analyses. Primary end point was the 2-year progression-free survival after salvage treatment. Overall, 990 patients (62%) relapsed and 604 patients (38%) remained relapse free. Histology, primary tumor location, response, and progression-free interval after first-line treatment, as well as levels of alpha fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotrophin, and the presence of liver, bone, or brain metastases at salvage were identified as independent prognostic variables and used to build a prognostic model in the training set. Survival rates in the training and validation set were very similar. The estimated 2-year progression-free survival rates in patients not included in the training set was 75% in very low risk, 51% in low risk, 40% in intermediate risk, 26% in high risk, and only 6% in very high-risk patients. Due to missing values in individual variables, 69 patients could not reliably be classified into one of these categories. Prognostic variables are important in patients with GCT who experienced treatment failure with cisplatin-based first-line chemotherapy and can be used to construct a prognostic model to guide salvage strategies.Journal of Clinical Oncology 10/2010; 28(33):4906-11. · 18.37 Impact Factor -
Article: High dose chemotherapy as salvage treatment for unresectable late relapse germ cell tumors.
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ABSTRACT: We assessed the activity of high dose chemotherapy in patients with unresectable late relapse germ cell tumors. A total of 35 patients with late relapse were included in a group of 216 treated with high dose chemotherapy as first or subsequent salvage treatment in a prospective, randomized, multicenter phase III trial comparing single vs sequential high dose chemotherapy. Late relapse was defined as unequivocal evidence of relapse more than 2 years after completion of cisplatin based chemotherapy. All patients were considered to have unresectable, progressive, late relapse germ cell tumors. Responders were scheduled for surgical resection of all residual lesions when technically feasible. We identified 4 late relapse groups, including late relapse in 20 of 35 patients (57%) after first line treatment (group 1), in 4 (11%) after first salvage treatment (group 2), in 4 (11%) after initial and after first salvage treatment (group 3), and in 7 (20%) after first line treatment and salvage treatment with rapid progression thereafter who were randomized to a high dose chemotherapy trial (group 4). Median time to late relapse was 4.7 years (range 2.1 to 18.3) in all groups. Resection of all residual lesions could be done in 15 of 35 patients (43%). At a median followup of 5.6 years (range 1.9 to 8.5) 5 of 35 patients (14%) had no progression, resulting in 15% projected progression-free survival. Management for unresectable late relapse germ cell tumors remains controversial. High dose chemotherapy followed by resection of all residual lesions can result in long-term remission in individuals.The Journal of urology 07/2010; 184(1):168-73. · 4.02 Impact Factor -
Article: Interdisciplinary evidence-based recommendations for the follow-up of testicular cancer patients: a joint effort.
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ABSTRACT: Detailed recommendations for the treatment of testicular cancer exist and due to the stringent application of the standard therapies, most patients can nowadays be cured. Moreover in the treatment of early stage disease, active surveillance is now a cornerstone of treatment. Hence there is a clear need for recommendations regarding the long term follow-up of these young patients. These have to be safe, feasible and the intensity of procedures have to reflect the known risk of recurrence. Different proposals have been published but they differ widely especially in terms of frequency and modality of imaging. In the last few years, new evidence has become available regarding the relapse pattern of different disease stages of testicular cancer, the use of imaging in follow-up and the risks of excessive radiation due to imaging, in particular with CT scans. In this article, an interdisciplinary, multinational working group has reviewed the evidence and based on this has formulated practical recommendations for the follow-up of patients with testicular cancer.Schweizerische medizinische Wochenschrift 06/2010; 140(25-26):356-69. · 1.68 Impact Factor -
Article: Patterns of relapse after chemotherapy in patients with high-risk non-seminomatous germ cell tumor.
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ABSTRACT: We investigated the pattern of relapse after chemotherapy in patients with high-risk germ cell tumor (GCT) to critically review common follow-up procedures including close monitoring of serum tumor markers and radiologic procedures. 645 patients received first-line (434 patients) or salvage platinum-based (211 patients) high-dose chemotherapy in three multicenter trials. Retrospective analysis comprised 77 patients after first-line and 61 after salvage chemotherapy, who had achieved at least a partial remission but progressed afterwards. At relapse, 24% of the patients presented with an isolated elevation in serum tumor markers, 26% with pathologic radiologic confirmation with negative tumor markers, and 42% with elevated tumor markers and radiologically confirmed progression. Relapse was detected by clinical symptoms in 8%. 46% relapsed within 3 months and 97% within 2 years. Relapse pattern did not correlate with tumor marker status or metastasis location prior to chemotherapy, line of chemotherapy, response status after chemotherapy or time point of relapse. In high-risk GCT patients, relapse after chemotherapy is detected either by tumor marker elevation alone, radiologic imaging alone or both, in one third each. Close monitoring including serum tumor markers, radiologic imaging and clinical examination appears warranted within the first 2 years.Oncology 03/2010; 78(1):47-53. · 2.27 Impact Factor -
Article: Germ-cell tumors.
New England Journal of Medicine 11/2007; 357(17):1772-3; author reply 1773-4. · 53.30 Impact Factor -
Article: Single versus sequential high-dose chemotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory germ cell tumors: a prospective randomized multicenter trial of the German Testicular Cancer Study Group.
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ABSTRACT: To compare single versus sequential high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) as first or subsequent salvage treatment in patients with relapsed or refractory germ cell tumors (GCTs). Between November 1999 and November 2004, 230 patients were planned to be recruited in a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial comparing one cycle of cisplatin 100 mg/m2, etoposide 375 mg/m2, and ifosfamide 6 g/m2 (VIP) plus three cycles of high-dose carboplatin 1,500 mg/m2 and etoposide 1,500 mg/m2 (CE; arm A) versus three cycles of VIP plus one cycle of high-dose carboplatin 2,200 mg/m2, etoposide 1,800 mg/m2, and cyclophosphamide 6,400 mg/m2 (CEC; arm B). The study was stopped prematurely after recruitment of 216 patients as a result of excess treatment-related mortality in arm B. One hundred eleven (51%) of 216 patients were randomly assigned to sequential HDCT, and 105 (47%) of 216 patients were randomly assigned to single HDCT. Five (2%) of 216 patients had to be excluded because of non-GCT histologies at review. With a median follow-up time of 36 months, 109 (52%) of 211 patients were alive, and 91 (43%) of 211 patients were progression free. At 1 year, event-free, progression-free, and overall survival rates were 40%, 53%, and 80%, respectively, in arm A compared with 37%, 49%, and 61%, respectively, in arm B (P > .05 for all comparisons). Treatment-related deaths, mainly as a result of sepsis and cardiac toxicity, were less frequent in arm A (four of 108 patients, 4%) compared with arm B (16 of 103 patients, 16%; P < .01). We found no difference in survival probabilities between single HDCT using CE and sequential HDCT using CEC. Sequential HDCT was better tolerated and resulted in fewer treatment-related deaths.Journal of Clinical Oncology 07/2007; 25(19):2778-84. · 18.37 Impact Factor -
Article: Solide Tumoren bei jungen Patienten
Onkologie 08/1970; 34(5):12-16. · 0.87 Impact Factor
Top co-authors
Top Journals
Institutions
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2011–2012
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Vitos Gießen-Marburg
Gießen, Hesse, Germany -
Universitätsklinikum Schleswig - Holstein
Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
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2010
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Philipps-Universität Marburg
Marburg an der Lahn, Hesse, Germany
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1970–2010
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Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg
- Klinik für Hämatologie, Onkologie und Immunologie
Marburg an der Lahn, Hesse, Germany
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