Study findings from Indiana University, Department of Urology provide new insights into germ cell cancer therapy
2009 JUL 27 - (NewsRx.com) -- Fresh data on germ cell cancer are presented in the report 'Results of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection after chemotherapy in patients with pure seminoma in the orchidectomy specimen but elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein.' "To determine the incidence of necrosis, teratoma, and active cancer in specimens at retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) after chemotherapy in patients who presented with a pure seminoma primary tumor and an elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level at diagnosis who underwent surgery. A retrospective review of the Indiana University testis cancer database from 1980 to 2004 was performed to identify all patients with metastasic germ cell cancer, pure seminoma in the orchidectomy specimen, and an elevated AFP level," investigators in the United States report. "In all, 42 patients were identified; two with nonseminomatous germ cell cancer in the contralateral testicle were excluded. RPLND pathology in the 40 patients showed necrosis in 13 (32.5%), teratoma in 12 (30%), and cancer in 15 (37.5%). The histological subtype of the 15 cancer specimens at RPLND was pure seminoma in two, embryonal in three, yolk sac in seven, variant in one, and mixed elements in two (one with seminoma and yolk sac, and one with embryonal and variant). In all, 20 patients presented with a serum AFP level of <1000 microg/mL with nine (45%) having teratoma only in the retroperitoneum in contrast to 20 patients with an AFP level of >1000 microg/mL with three (15%) having teratoma only in the retroperitoneum (p=0.04). The level of serum AFP did not predict for active cancer in the retroperitoneum (p=0.5). RPLND in patients after chemotherapy who presented with pure seminoma in the orchidectomy specimen and an elevated AFP do not have a high probability of finding necrosis only in the RPLND specimen," wrote M. Peterson and colleagues, Indiana University, Department of Urology. The researchers concluded: "In fact, the prevalence of persistent cancer is higher compared with the general group of patients that have RPLND after chemotherapy." Peterson and colleagues published their study in Bju International (Results of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection after chemotherapy in patients with pure seminoma in the orchidectomy specimen but elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein. Bju International, 2009;104(2):176-8). For additional information, contact M. Peterson, Indiana University School of Medicine, Dept. of Urology, Indianapolis, IN USA.. The publisher of the journal Bju International can be contacted at: Blackwell Publishing Inc., 350 Main St., Malden, MA 02148, USA. Keywords: United States, Indianapolis, Germ Cell Cancer Therapy, Chemotherapy, Drug Therapy, Germ Cell Cancer, Germ Cell Carcinoma, Necrosis, Oncology, Orchidectomy, Pathology, Seminoma, Surgery, Teratoma, Treatment, Urology. This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.
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