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Outcome of Patients With Residual Germ Cell or Non-Germ Cell Malignancy After Resection of Primary Mediastinal Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Cancer

From the Divisions of Hematology-Oncology, Thoracic Surgery, and Biostatistics, Indiana University Medical Center and Walther Cancer Institute, Indianapolis, IN

Address reprint requests to Lawrence H. Einhorn, MD, Indiana Cancer Pavilion, 535 Barnhill Dr RT #473, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5289; e-mail: leinhorn{at}iupui.edu

PURPOSE: To identify prognostic variables and outcomes in patients with primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (PMNSGCT) with postchemotherapy resection of persistent cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-seven consecutive patients with residual cancer after resection of PMNSGCT were retrospectively reviewed. Univariate comparisons were performed.

RESULTS: At diagnosis, 43 patients had elevated serum tumor markers (STMs), and 20 had extramediastinal disease. At resection, 21 patients had elevated STMs. After resection, 26 patients had germ cell tumors (GCT), 12 had malignant transformation of teratoma with elements of non-GCT, and nine had both GCT and non-GCT. Sixteen of 47 patients continuously have no evidence of disease (NED). This includes eight of 26 patients with GCT histology and two of 12 patients with non-GCT histology. Of 27 patients with mediastinal-only disease at presentation, 14 have continuously NED. Of 20 patients with extramediastinal disease at presentation, two have continuously NED. Seven of 21 patients with elevated STMs at time of resection have continuously NED. Sixteen patients received adjuvant chemotherapy, and seven have continuously NED. Overall, 16 of 47 patients have continuously NED, an additional four patients have NED with further therapy (currently NED), two patients are alive with disease, 23 patients died of disease, and two patients died postoperatively.

CONCLUSION: The presence of elevated STMs at resection does not appear to alter outcome if residual disease is completely resected. In this poor-risk patient population, surgical resection of persistent cancer, even in the presence of elevated STMs, can still achieve long-term survival.

Presented in part at the 39th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Chicago, IL, May 31-June 3, 2003.

Authors' disclosures of potential conflicts of interest are found at the end of this article.

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