Nonseminomatous germ cell tumors: Assessing the need for postchemotherapy contralateral pulmonary resection in patients with ipsilateral complete necrosis

Discordance of retroperitoneal and thoracic histologic findings in patients with metastatic germ cell tumors at postchemotherapy residual tumor resection

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Postchemotherapy residual tumor resection (PC-RTR) is an important part of the multimodal treatment for patients with metastatic germ cell tumors. Simultaneous retroperitoneal and thoracic metastases often require consecutive surgical procedures. This study analyzes the histologic findings after abdominal and thoracic surgery in order to tailor the sequence and intensity of surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From a total of 671 PC-RTRs from 2008 to 2021 we analyzed 50 patients with stage III non-seminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT) who had undergone both retroperitoneal and thoracic postchemotherapy residual tumor resection after first-line and salvage chemotherapy.

RESULTS

All patients included had stage III NSGCT. 39 and 11 patients received first-line and salvage chemotherapy, respectively. 45 (90%) patients received retroperitoneal resection first, followed by thoracic surgery. Three patients (6%) underwent thoracic surgery before retroperitoneal surgery and two patients (4%) underwent simultaneous surgery. Overall, the histology of retroperitoneal and thoracic specimens was discordant in 23% of cases. After first-line chemotherapy, of fourteen patients with necrosis in retroperitoneal histology, four patients had vital carcinoma in lung histology. In patients with teratoma in the retroperitoneum, the thoracic findings were concordant in most cases (78%). When teratomatous elements were also present in the orchiectomy specimen, concordance was 100%. After salvage chemotherapy, the discordance rate was 55%.

CONCLUSION

The data presented in this study underline that retroperitoneal residual masses with necrosis cannot reliably predict histologic findings of thoracic specimens. Patients with teratoma in the retroperitoneum have a high likelihood of teratoma in the thoracic specimen.

Metastasis-directed therapy in testicular cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review highlights the importance of addressing testicular cancer metastasizing beyond the retroperitoneum, focusing on multidisciplinary approaches and advances in treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent literature emphasizes on the evolving landscape of metastasis-directed therapy, including surgical interventions, chemotherapy regimens, and radiation therapy. The effectiveness of these treatments varies depending on the site of metastasis, with various approaches improving survival rates and quality of life for patients. We divide our review in an organ-specific manner and focus on chemotherapeutic, surgical, and radiation therapy approaches pertaining to each site of metastasis.

SUMMARY

Our review suggests the pressing need for continued research to refine and personalize treatment strategies. These efforts are important for enhancing clinical practice, ultimately leading to better outcomes for patients with metastatic testicular cancer.

Testicular Tumors

BACKGROUND

Germ-cell tumors of the testes are the most common type of malignant tumor in men aged 20 to 40. Their incidence in Germany is 10 per 100 000 men per year, with an estimated 4200 new cases annually.

METHODS

This selective review is based on the recommendations of the German clinical practice guideline on the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care of testicular germ-cell tumors, as well as on pertinent original articles and reviews.

RESULTS

The treatment of germ-cell tumors requires an interdisciplinary approach comprising resection of the affected testis followed by further steps that depend on the histological type and stage of the tumor, which may include active surveillance, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, further surgery, or some combination of these measures. Two-thirds of germ-cell tumors are diagnosed in clinical stage I, when they are still confined to the testis; one-third are already metastatic when diagnosed, with organ metastases in 10-15%. Stage-based multimodal treatment approaches are associated with cure rates of more than 99% for stage I tumors and 67-95% for advanced metastatic disease, depending on the degree of progression.

CONCLUSION

For patients with early-stage tumors, overtreatment should be avoided in order to minimize long-term sequelae. For those whose tumors are in advanced stages, it must be decided which patients should receive intensified treatment to optimize the outcome. Multimodal treatment approaches are associated with high cure rates even for patients with metastatic disease.

European Association of Urology Guidelines on Testicular Cancer: 2023 Update

CONTEXT

Each year the European Association of Urology (EAU) produce a document based on the most recent evidence on the diagnosis, therapy, and follow-up of testicular cancer (TC).

OBJECTIVE

To represent a summarised version of the EAU guidelines on TC for 2023 with a focus on key changes in the 2023 update.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A multidisciplinary panel of TC experts, comprising urologists, medical and radiation oncologists, and pathologists, reviewed the results from a structured literature search to compile the guidelines document. Each recommendation in the guidelines was assigned a strength rating.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

For the 2023 EAU guidelines on TC, a review and restructure were undertaken. The key changes incorporated in the 2023 update include: new supporting text regarding venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in males with metastatic germ cell tumours receiving chemotherapy; quality of life after treatment; an update of the histological classifications and inclusion of the World Health Organization 2022 pathological classification; inclusion of the revalidation of the 1997 International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group prognostic risk factors; and a new section covering oncology treatment protocols.

CONCLUSIONS

The 2023 version of the EAU guidelines on TC include the highest available scientific evidence to standardise the management of TC. Better stratification and optimisation of treatment modalities will continue to improve the high survival rates for patients with TC.

PATIENT SUMMARY

This article presents a summary of the European Association of Urology guidelines on testicular cancer published in 2023 and includes the latest recommendations for management of this disease. The guidelines are a valuable resource that may help patients in understanding treatment recommendations.

Characteristics of lung metastasis in testicular cancer: A large-scale population analysis based on propensity score matching

Background

This study aims to systematically evaluate predictive factors for lung metastasis (LM) in patients with testicular cancer (TC) and to investigate cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) of LM in TC patients based on a large population-cohort.

Methods

A total of 10,414 patients diagnosed with TC during 2010–2015 were adopted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER). After propensity score matching (PSM), 493 patients with LM were included for subsequent analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify risk factors, a nomogram was developed, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized to confirm the validation of the nomogram. Prognostic factors for OS and CSS among TC patients with LM were estimated via Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

Postmatching indicated that 11 parameters were successfully balanced between both groups (P > 0.05). After PSM, TC patients with LM presented an undesirable prognosis in both CSS and OS than those without LM (P < 0.001). The logistic regression model showed that tumor size; T stage; N stage; liver, brain, and bone metastases; and histology were positively associated with LM (P < 0.05). A nomogram was developed to predict diagnostic possibilities based on the independent risk variables, and the ROC curve verified the predictive capacity of the logistic regression model [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.910].

Conclusion

The selected variates in the nomogram can be predictive criteria for TC patients with LM. Brain metastasis, liver metastasis, and larger tumor size were prognostic factors for CCS and OS among TC patients with LM.

Pulmonary metastasectomy in germ cell tumors and prostate cancer

Pulmonary oligo-metastases and oligo-recurrences are terms used to define a set of clinical conditions consisting of limited metastatic malignant disease characterized by an intermediate aggressive behavior compared to diffuse metastatic conditions. If the primary tumor has been controlled and extra-thoracic lesions are excluded, there is a suggestion in the medical literature that removal of such lesions could potentially prolong survival. The lungs are a common metastatic spreading site, especially from epithelial malignancies and sarcomas; pulmonary surgical or interventional metastasectomy have been proposed with curative intent in case of limited tumor load (usually less than 5 lesions). There are many series reporting data about colorectal, renal or breast lung metastasectomy, but the absence of multi centric prospective trials determines a lack of definitive evidence, especially for less common tumors such as metastatic germ cell and prostate cancer. They rarely present in the oligo-metastatic form and their management is often based on personal experience. The aim of our article is to review the latest evidence in the treatment of pulmonary metastatic germ cell and prostate tumors. We cover the full range of treatments: from surgery to ablative radiotherapy and combination of local and systemic therapy. Despite the absence of evidence based guidelines, it emerges that pulmonary metastasectomy should always be considered when general criteria for resection have been met. In germ cell tumors surgery should be mainly reserved for residual disease after chemotherapy, whereas in prostate cancer, pulmonary metastasectomy should be preferred to avoid or delay hormonal deprivation therapy and its side effects.

Pathologic concordance of resected metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors in the chest

OBJECTIVE

Men with metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCTs) often present with residual chest tumors after chemotherapy. We examined the pathologic concordance of intrathoracic disease and outcomes based on the worst pathology of disease resected at first thoracic surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed of consecutive patients undergoing thoracic resection for metastatic NSGCT in our institution between 2005 and 2018.

RESULTS

Eighty-nine patients (all men) were included. The median age was 29 years (interquartile range [IQR], 23-35 years). Primary sites were testis (n = 84; 94.4%) and retroperitoneum (n = 5; 5.6%). Eighty-seven patients received chemotherapy before undergoing surgery. Nineteen patients (21.3%; group 1) had malignancy resected at first surgery (OR1), and the other 70 patients had benign disease at OR1 (78.7%; group 2). Concordant pathology between lungs was 85.2% in group 1 and 91% in group 2, and between lung and mediastinum was 50% in group 1 and 72.7% in group 2. Despite no teratoma at OR1, 3 patients (15.8%) in group 2 had resection of teratoma (n = 2) or malignancy (n = 1) at future surgery. After a mean follow-up of 65.5 months (IQR, 23.1-89.2 months) for group 1 and 47.7 months (IQR, 13.0-75.1 months) for group 2, overall survival was significantly worse for group 1 (68.4% vs 92.9%; P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

The wide range of pathology resected in patients with intrathoracic NSGCT metastases requires careful decision making regarding treatment. Pathologic concordance between lungs is better than that between lung and mediastinum in patients with intrathoracic NSGCT metastases. Aggressive surgical management should be considered for all residual disease due to the low concordance between sites and the potential for excellent long-term survival even in patients with chemotherapy-refractory disease.

Thoracic Metastasectomy in Germ Cell Tumor Patients Treated With First-line Versus Salvage Therapy

BACKGROUND

Outcomes after thoracic metastasectomy in patients with testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) who received first-line chemotherapy alone versus salvage chemotherapy remain unexplored.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent thoracic metastasectomy for residual GCT between 1997 and 2019 at a single tertiary center. Factors associated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed using multivariable Cox regression.

RESULTS

Of 251 patients, 191 received only first-line chemotherapy (76%) and 60 received salvage chemotherapy (24%). Median follow-up was 3.45 years (interquartile range, 1-7.93 years). Among first-line patients without teratoma in the primary tumor, with necrosis in the retroperitoneal nodes and normalized or decreasing serum tumor markers, 17 of 20 had intrathoracic necrosis (85%). Among first-line and salvage patients, respectively, 5-year OS was 93% (95% confidence interval [CI], 89%-98%) versus 63% (95% CI, 51%-78%; P < .001), and 5-year PFS was 69% (95% CI, 62%-77%) versus 40% (95% CI, 29%-56%; P < .001). On multivariable analysis, multiple lung lesions (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.01; 95% CI, 1.50-6.05; P = .002) and brain metastasis (HR = 4.51; 95% CI, 2.34-8.73; P < .001) at diagnosis, salvage chemotherapy (HR = 1.85; 95% CI, 1.10-3.13; P = .021), teratoma (HR = 2.68; 95% CI, 1.50-4.78; P = .001), and viable malignancy (HR = 4.34; 95% CI, 2.44-7.71; P < .001) were associated with worse PFS.

CONCLUSIONS

Although GCT patients treated with salvage chemotherapy followed by thoracic metastasectomy have more aggressive disease and poorer PFS, they can achieve encouraging OS. Our findings highlight the integral role of aggressive thoracic metastasectomy in the treatment of GCT patients with residual thoracic disease after first line-only or salvage chemotherapy.

Prediction models for the viability of pulmonary metastatic lesions after chemotherapy in nonseminomatous germ cell tumors

OBJECTIVES

To analyze predictors associated with viable cells in pulmonary residual lesions after chemotherapy for metastatic testicular nonseminomatous germ cell tumors and to develop models to prioritize pulmonary resection.

METHODS

Between 2008 and 2017, 40 patients underwent pulmonary metastasectomy after chemotherapy for nonseminomatous germ cell tumors. We evaluated these patients, and 326 pulmonary residual lesions were confirmed using computed tomography and pathological evaluations. Relationships with outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression analyses. Risk prediction models were developed, and predictive probabilities for the risk of viable cells were estimated.

RESULTS

Histological examinations showed that 73 (22%) pulmonary residual lesions contained viable cells: teratomas, 46 (14%); and cancer cells, 37 (11%). Multivariate analyses showed that the predictors associated with cancer cells in the residual lesions were elevated tumor marker levels, multiregimen chemotherapy, increased tumor size 6 months before surgery and the histological composition of the primary lesion, including yolk sac tumors. Additional predictors associated with teratomas were aspect ratio and histological composition of the primary lesion, including teratomas.

CONCLUSIONS

Intratumoral heterogeneity contributes to nonseminomatous germ cell tumor chemoresistance, and primary lesion site yolk sac tumors and teratomas are associated with greater risks of viable cells. Increased residual lesion size during chemotherapy could also be a predictor. Our simple model can predict the presence of viable cells in residual lesions after chemotherapy, and it might assist in decision-making and prioritizing pulmonary residual lesion resection.

[Management of residual masses of testis germ cell tumors]

A residual mass (RM) is an abnormal image with a transverse axis of more than 1cm trans that remains visible on the CT scan performed after chemotherapy for metastatic germ cell tumors. Their management depends on the histology of the initial tumor. In the case of a non-seminomatous germ cell tumor, all residual lesions must be resected if the tumor markers are negative. The surgery usually begins with a retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy. This lymphadenectomy is a programed regional surgery and not the only resection of visible masses. All RM must be resected, regardless of their location, and may require successive actions. In order to limit its morbidity, modifications on the extent of the lymphadenectomy and the use of minimally invasive approaches are proposed by some center. When the initial tumor is a pure seminoma the attitude is different: the decay of the masses in post chemotherapy is often postponed. If lesions less than 3cm can be monitored, the others benefit from 18FDG PET at the end of chemotherapy: a positive attachment to PET is suspected of the presence of residual active tissue. The surgery of these RM is curative. If its extent is precise in the case of non-seminomatous tumor, it is more controversial in the case of seminoma. In the case of residual markers, surgery has a place in very specific situations.

Pulmonary Metastasectomy for Germ Cell Tumors

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are the most common malignancy among young men in the United States. Although prognosis is favorable and response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens is good, 10%–20% of patients with thoracic metastases require surgical management following completion of chemotherapy. Pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) has been employed for GCT patients with lung metastases for several decades. Outcomes have been excellent thus far. However, there have been no randomized controlled trials of PM in GCT and, as new surgical techniques are developed, there is variability in management. This article reviews the existing data on current management of pulmonary metastases in GCT, with attention paid to timing of surgery, surgical approaches, and complications.

Management of residual masses in testicular germ cell tumors

INTRODUCTION

About 50% of all patients with advanced testicular cancer demonstrate residual retroperitoneal or extraretroperitoneal masses. About two thirds of the masses harbour necrosis/fibrosis only whereas as about 10% and 40% harbour vital cancer or teratoma. Appropriate therapy will result in a high cure rate if performed properly. Areas covered: This review article covers the indication, the surgical technique and the oncological outcome of PC-RPLND and resection of extraretroperitoneal residual masses following chemotherapy in patients with advanced testis cancer. Expert commentary: Postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND) plays an integral part of the multimodality treatment in patients with advanced testicular germ cell tumours. Patients with nonseminomas, residual masses < 1cm and good prognosis can undergo active surveillance. In all other cases, PC-RPLND with or without resection of adjacent organs needs to be performed for curative intent. PC-RPLND requires a complex surgical approach and should be performed in experienced, tertiary referral centres only.

Management of Residual Mass in Germ Cell Tumors After Chemotherapy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to educate medical oncologists on the management of patients with residual germ cell tumors and the role of surgical resection after platinum-based chemotherapy.

RECENT FINDINGS

Patients with non-seminomatous testicular cancer and residual enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes > 1 cm following induction chemotherapy with normal tumor markers should undergo a post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. All patients with primary mediastinal non-seminoma should undergo surgical resection of the mediastinal mass post-chemotherapy. These are complex surgeries and require expert surgeons in high-volume centers. Patients with advanced testicular seminoma who have residual masses less than 3 cm after chemotherapy can be observed without further intervention. Patients with a residual mass > 3 cm should be evaluated with PET scan after 6 weeks of chemotherapy. Residual mass with negative PET scan can be followed by surveillance while a positive PET scan requires further work up to rule out active disease.

Management of extraretroperitoneal masses in germ cell tumor

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Management of extraretroperitoneal (ERP) germ cell tumor (GCT) is a complex clinical scenario faced by urologic oncologists. This article reviews the indications and approach to management of ERP GCT masses.

RECENT FINDINGS

ERP GCT management starts with chemotherapy, and for any residual masses, a careful consideration of surgical intervention versus salvage chemotherapy. Decision-making regarding residual ERP masses hinges on tumor markers, and also the anatomical location. These factors should be contextualized by the patient's risk for teratoma or active GCT, which will impact outcome and thus weigh on decision-making conversations with patients who have advanced disease. Technical challenges of surgical management in the postchemotherapy setting also apply in ERP mass resection. The risks of surgical management in the lung and liver, in particular, add special considerations for morbidity. Surgical resection is often the only recourse for a patient who may have chemoresistant disease and may be an important step in achieving cure.

SUMMARY

Surgical management of ERP GCT requires multidisciplinary input, and the urologic oncologist can help guide management with particular emphasis on the indication, timing, and approach to surgical resection.

Nodule Size After Chemotherapy and Primary-Tumor Teratoma Components Predict Malignancy of Residual Pulmonary Nodules in Metastatic Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumor

BACKGROUND

The treatment goal for visceral metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT) is to remove any residual teratoma or viable NSGCT after chemotherapy. However, this provides no therapeutic benefit to patients whose metastases necrotize on their own. This study therefore analyzed NSGCTs with pulmonary metastases to determine preoperative factors that predict necrosis and could help identify patients who might be treated with monitoring rather than surgery.

METHODS

The study retrospectively analyzed 41 patients (135 metastatic pulmonary nodules) treated from 1997 to 2016 for NSGCT who showed tumor marker normalization after chemotherapy. Relationships between clinicopathologic characteristics and necrosis in resected pulmonary specimens were analyzed.

RESULTS

Receiver operating characteristic analysis of the pulmonary nodules showed 9 mm to be the optimal cutoff length for predicting necrosis. The logistic regression model showed that absence of teratoma components in the primary tumor and all pulmonary nodules shorter than 10 mm after chemotherapy both were independent predictors of pathologic necrosis in pulmonary specimens. No patients experienced late recurrence (i.e., > 2 years afterward).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of teratoma components in primary tumors and nodular size after chemotherapy predict the pathology of residual pulmonary nodules. Patients whose residual nodules all are shorter than 10 mm and who have no primary-tumor teratoma components might be candidates for careful monitoring before pulmonary resection.

[When is surgical resection of metastases in testicular germ cell tumors indicated and is there a scientific basis?]

Surgical resection of metastases represents an integral part of curative management in patients with testicular germ cell tumors (GCT). Primary nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (nsRPLND) for low volume metastases in clinical stages I-IIB has to be differentiated from the more complex and more extensive postchemotherapeutic procedures. In Europe, primary nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (nsRPLND) for clinical stage I nonseminomatous GCT (NSGCT) plays a subordinate. In clinical stage IIA/B, nsRPLND is indicated for patients with marker-negative metastases in whom cure rates of about 65% can be achieved with surgery alone. For clinical stage IIA/B seminomas, nsRPLND represents an individual, still experimental procedure with high cure rates. Postchemotherapy residual tumor resection (pRTR) for advanced seminomas is only indicated in the context of a FDG-PET/CT-positive residual mass >3 cm in diameter. For NSGCT, pRTR is indicated in patients with residual masses >1 cm and negative or plateauing tumor markers to resect persisting teratoma or vital cancer. Complete resection of all masses including resection of adjacent vascular, visceral or skeletal metastases is mandatory to achieving the highest cure rate possible. Due to the complexity and the lower rate of significant morbidity and mortality, these procedures should be done at tertiary referral centers.

Surgical controversies in the management of post-chemotherapy nonretroperitoneal residual disease in metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors

Following the advent of platinum-based chemotherapy, Surgery, excepting orchidectomy, has become an adjunct treatment in the management of metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT). Role of surgery comes into play in metastatic NSGCT when residual disease persists following standard chemotherapy. Surgical excision of all post chemotherapy residual disease at all places, whenever surgically feasible with acceptable morbidity and mortality, should be undertaken. As histopathological examination of the excised postchemotherapy residue shows only necrosis and fibrosis in significant number of patients; surgical exercise in this group of patients seems futile and unwarranted retrospectively. This issue becomes more contentious when surgeons are confronted with multiple nonretroperitoneal post chemotherapy residues. This article aims to deal with the management of postchemotherapy nonretroperitoneal residues in metastatic NSGCT.

Guidelines on Testicular Cancer: 2015 Update

CONTEXT

This is an update of the previous European Association of Urology testis cancer guidelines published in 2011, which included major changes in the diagnosis and treatment of germ cell tumours.

OBJECTIVE

To summarise latest developments in the treatment of this rare disease. Recommendations have been agreed within a multidisciplinary working group consisting of urologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A semi-structured literature search up to February 2015 was performed to update the recommendations. In addition, this document was subjected to double-blind peer review before publication.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

This publication focuses on the most important changes in treatment recommendations for clinical stage I disease and the updated recommendations for follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Most changes in the recommendations will lead to an overall reduction in treatment burden for patients with germ cell tumours. In advanced stages, treatment intensification is clearly defined to further improve overall survival rates.

PATIENT SUMMARY

This is an update of a previously published version of the European Association of Urology guidelines for testis cancer, and includes new recommendations for clinical stage I disease and revision of the follow-up recommendations. Patients should be fully informed of all the treatment options available to them.

[Importance of pathology for therapy planning of testicular germ cell tumors]

Testicular tumors can be divided into germ cell tumors and sex cord stromal tumors. Malignant testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) represent about 90-95 % of all testicular tumors and are the most common solid neoplasms in young men aged 20-40 years with an increasing incidence in industrialized countries. Treatment of TGCT is performed by an individual and risk-adapted approach taking primary tumor histology, histopathlogical and molecular prognostic risk factors, tumor stage and for metastasized tumors the response to systemic chemotherapy into consideration. Knowledge of the specific histopathology of the primary tumor and the prognostic factors is of utmost importance for the treating urologist and oncologist in order to avoid undertreatment or overtreatment. Established risk factors which have been validated in retrospective and prospective studies for clinical stage I non-seminomatous TGCT are the presence of vascular invasion and the percentage of embryonal carcinoma. In clinical stage I seminomas tumor size (> 4 cm) and presence of rete testis infiltration have been identified as risk factors in retrospective but not in prospective studies. Quantitative histopathology of the primary tumor is also important for the management of small residual masses following chemotherapy: if the masses are ≤ 1 cm, postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is only indicated if the primary tumor contains ≥ 50 % teratoma. Quantitative pathohistology of the resected residual masses is of importance for the decision-making process of a consolidating chemotherapy which is only of benefit if the amount of vital cancer tissue is > 10 %. Resection of residual hepatic and thoracic masses is indispensable. For gonadal stromal tumors knowledge of atypical nuclear forms, increased rate of mitosis and increased growth fractions are important for therapy planning.

Postchemotherapy surgery for germ cell tumors--what have we learned in 35 years?

Postchemotherapy surgery for advanced testicular cancer has evolved over the last couple of decades. Patients with nonseminomatous germ cell tumors and residual retroperitoneal mass ≥1 cm should undergo postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND). For seminoma, RPLND is considered in those patients with masses ≥3 cm that are also positron emission tomography positive. Masses that occur outside of the retroperitoneum should be completely resected with the possible exception of bilateral lung masses when resection of the first mass shows necrosis. The role of surgery in patients with extragonadal germ cell tumors is most vital in those with primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumors. Importantly, patient selection, surgical planning, and consideration of referral to centers with this expertise are important to optimize success.

Pulmonary metastasectomy: what is the practice and where is the evidence for effectiveness?

Pulmonary metastasectomy is a commonly performed operation and is tending to increase as part of a concept of personalised treatment for advanced cancer. There have been no randomised trials; belief in effectiveness of metastasectomy is based on registry data and surgical follow-up studies. These retrospective series are comprised predominately of solitary or few metastases with primary resection to metastasectomy intervals longer than 2-3 years. Five-year survival rates of 30-50% are recorded, but as case selection is based on favourable prognostic features, an apparent association between metastasectomy and survival cannot be interpreted as causation. Cancers for which lung metastasectomy is used are considered in four pathological groups. In non-seminomatous germ cell tumour, for which chemotherapy is highly effective, excision of residual pulmonary disease guides future treatment and in particular allows an informed decisions as to further chemotherapy. Sarcoma metastasises predominately to lung and pulmonary metastasectomy for both bone and soft tissues sarcoma is routinely considered as a treatment option but without randomised data. The commonest circumstance for lung and liver metastasectomy is colorectal cancer. Repeated resections and ablations are commonplace but without evidence of effectiveness for either. For melanoma, results are particularly poor, but lung metastases are resected when no other treatment options are available. In this review, the available evidence is considered and the conclusion reached is that in the absence of randomised trials there is uncertainty about effectiveness. A randomised controlled trial, Pulmonary Metastasectomy in Colorectal Cancer (PulMiCC), is in progress and randomised trials in sarcoma seem warranted.

[Diagnosis and treatment of nonseminomatous germ cell tumors]

Testicular cancer currently shows excellent rates of curing and even in advanced stages of disease about 70% can be achieved. This was possible due to continuously carrying out studies. To reduce long-term toxicity the focus is now put on reduction of treatment. In nonseminomatous germ cell cancer this is discussed especially for stage I disease where different therapeutic strategies can be offered. Concerning advanced disease the aim is a further improvement of treatment results. Polychemotherapy and surgical procedures are equally important in this scenario. Concerning residual tumor resection it should always be considered that the procedure can be extended by adjuvant surgery, e.g. cava resection. Therefore, those resections should only be performed at centers where all possibly needed surgical disciplines are available.

Maintaining success, reducing treatment burden, focusing on survivorship: highlights from the third European consensus conference on diagnosis and treatment of germ-cell cancer

In November 2011, the Third European Consensus Conference on Diagnosis and Treatment of Germ-Cell Cancer (GCC) was held in Berlin, Germany. This third conference followed similar meetings in 2003 (Essen, Germany) and 2006 (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) [Schmoll H-J, Souchon R, Krege S et al. European consensus on diagnosis and treatment of germ-cell cancer: a report of the European Germ-Cell Cancer Consensus Group (EGCCCG). Ann Oncol 2004; 15: 1377-1399; Krege S, Beyer J, Souchon R et al. European consensus conference on diagnosis and treatment of germ-cell cancer: a report of the second meeting of the European Germ-Cell Cancer Consensus group (EGCCCG): part I. Eur Urol 2008; 53: 478-496; Krege S, Beyer J, Souchon R et al. European consensus conference on diagnosis and treatment of germ-cell cancer: a report of the second meeting of the European Germ-Cell Cancer Consensus group (EGCCCG): part II. Eur Urol 2008; 53: 497-513]. A panel of 56 of 60 invited GCC experts from all across Europe discussed all aspects on diagnosis and treatment of GCC, with a particular focus on acute and late toxic effects as well as on survivorship issues. The panel consisted of oncologists, urologic surgeons, radiooncologists, pathologists and basic scientists, who are all actively involved in care of GCC patients. Panelists were chosen based on the publication activity in recent years. Before the meeting, panelists were asked to review the literature published since 2006 in 20 major areas concerning all aspects of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of GCC patients, and to prepare an updated version of the previous recommendations to be discussed at the conference. In addition, ∼50 E-vote questions were drafted and presented at the conference to address the most controversial areas for a poll of expert opinions. Here, we present the main recommendations and controversies of this meeting. The votes of the panelists are added as online supplements.

Surgical intervention for pulmonary metastases

INTRODUCTION

Autopsy studies of persons who died of cancer have shown the lungs to be the sole site of metastasis in about 20% of cases. The resection of pulmonary metastases is indicated for palliative purposes if they contain a large volume of necrotic tumor, infiltrate the thoracic wall to produce pain, or cause hemoptysis or retention pneumonia. Metastasectomy with curative intent may be indicated for carefully selected patients.

METHODS

This review is based on a selective search of the PubMed database for articles that were published from 2006 to 2011 and contained the keywords "pulmonary metastasectomy," "lung resection of metastasis," and "lung metastasectomy."

RESULTS

No prospective comparative trials have been performed to date that might provide evidence for prolongation of survival by pulmonary metastasectomy; nor have there been any randiomized, controlled trials yielding evidence that would assist in the decision whether to treat pulmonary metastases with surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy (or some combination of these). The indication for surgery is a function of the histology of the primary tumor, the number and location of metastases, the lung capacity that is expected to remain after surgery, and the opportunity for an R0 resection. Favorable prognostic factors include a long disease-free interval between the treatment of the primary tumor and the discovery of pulmonary metastases, the absence of thoracic lymph node metastases, and a small number of pulmonary metastases. The reported 5-year survival rates after pulmonary metastasectomy, depending on the primary tumor, are 35.5% to 47% for renal-cell carcinoma, 39.1% to 67.8% for colorectal cancer, 29% to 52% for soft-tissue sarcoma, 38% to 49.7% for osteosarcoma, and 79% to 94% for non-seminomatous germ-cell tumors. For the latter two types of tumor, chemotherapy is the most beneficial form of treatment for long-term survival.

CONCLUSION

When there is no good clinical alternative, the resection of pulmonary metastases can give some patients long-lasting freedom from malignant disease. Patients should be carefully selected on the basis of clinical staging with defined prognostic indicators.

Contemporary management of postchemotherapy testis cancer

CONTEXT

Some controversy still exists regarding the management of testis cancer following chemotherapy for disseminated disease.

OBJECTIVE

To review the available literature concerning the management of postchemotherapy testis cancer.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A Medline search was conducted to identify original and review articles, as well as guidelines addressing the management of testis cancer following first-line chemotherapy. Keywords included germ cell tumor, testis cancer, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, and chemotherapy. The most relevant articles were critically reviewed with the consensus of all the collaborative authors, who have expertise in the management of germ cell tumors (GCTs).

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Approximately one-third of patients who undergo chemotherapy for metastatic GCTs have residual retroperitoneal disease. All patients with residual masses ≥1cm after chemotherapy for nonseminomatous GCTs should undergo postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND) because of the risk of mature teratoma in 40-45% of cases and of viable GCT in 10-15% of cases. Patients who obtain a complete serologic remission and radiographic residual <1 cm after chemotherapy have a 6-9% risk of relapse. Patients with a completely resected teratoma in only the PC-RPLND specimen have a >90% chance of cure, while patients with viable GCTs should be considered for additional therapy, depending on the percentage of viable tumor. In patients with disseminated seminoma, postchemotherapy masses <3cm may be safely observed, while patients with masses >3 cm should be evaluated with positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography 2 mo after completion of chemotherapy, with very selective administration of PC-RPLND. Late relapse occurring >2 yr after chemotherapy is rare, and surgery remains the mainstay of therapy in cases of resectable masses independent of tumor markers. There is still controversy on whether high-dose chemotherapy confers a survival benefit compared with conventional-dose chemotherapy in the salvage setting. Surgery should always be considered for resectable masses following salvage therapies or in chemoresistant disease to maximize chance of cure.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with advanced GCTs can achieve long-term disease-free survival when chemotherapy is combined with expert and judicious resection of residual disease. PC-RPLND is recommended for residual masses >1cm identified on postchemotherapy imaging in nonseminomatous GCT and possibly for PET-positive residual disease ≥3cm in treated seminomas.

Advanced seminoma and nonseminoma: SIU/ICUD Consensus Meeting on Germ Cell Tumors (GCT), Shanghai 2009

The use of cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy has led to a dramatic improvement in the cure rate of patients with metastatic germ cell tumors (GCTs). With high complete response (CR) rates achieved in approximately 80% of patients with advanced testicular cancer after standard first-line cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Thereafter, the goals of various trials were to reduce the chemotherapy toxicity by limiting the number of chemotherapy cycles, the duration of therapy, and reducing the doses of, or even omitting, individual cytotoxic drugs, while maintaining efficacy, or to investigate the potential role of carboplatin as single agent or combined with etoposide and bleomycin for advanced seminoma. From prospective randomized trials and available data from additional sources, a European standard has been defined in several consensus conferences,(1-3) with the most recent consensus conference published by the European Society for Medical Oncology Consensus Group.(4,5) These international guidelines were developed from the previous published guidelines and data from available current trials. The principles of evidence-based medicine were scored (score 1-4) using a modified version of the Oxford levels of evidence and are listed in the present report in brackets. Draft guidelines were presented at an International Consensus in Urological Disease (ICUD) meeting (Shanghai, November 2009). The writing committee compiled the results of the discussion. All participants agreed to this final update.

[What is new in 2011 regarding testicular cancer]

The management of testicular cancer has already been standardized to the greatest extent by consistent performance of clinical trials. While the current aim is to reduce the therapy for early stage disease without jeopardizing the high cure rates, for patients in advanced stages the goal is to achieve further improvement of survival rates. This overview presents new aspects of organ-preserving primary tumor resection, prognostic factors in seminoma, secondary malignancies, high-dose therapy, residual tumor resection, aftercare, and PET/CT.

Survival after resection for metastatic testicular nonseminomatous germ cell cancer to the lung or mediastinum

BACKGROUND

Since the advent of cisplatin-based chemotherapy, nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) have been considered one of the most curable solid neoplasms and a model for multimodality cancer therapy. We undertook an institutional review of testicular NSGCT patients who underwent operations to remove lung or mediastinal metastases after chemotherapy in the cisplatin era to determine outcomes.

METHODS

From 1980 to 2006, 431 patients underwent 640 postchemotherapy surgical procedures to remove lung (n = 159, 36.8%), mediastinal (n = 136, 31.6%), or both lung and mediastinal (n = 136, 31.6%) metastases within 2 years of chemotherapy. Multiple variables potentially predictive of survival were analyzed.

RESULTS

The overall median survival was 23.4 years, with 295 (68%) patients alive and well after an average follow-up of 5.6 years. There was no survival difference in patients who underwent removal of lung or mediastinal metastases. Pathologic categories of resected residual disease were necrosis (21.5%), teratoma (52.7%), persistent NSGCT (15.0%), and degenerative non-germ cell cancer (10.1%). Multivariable analysis identified older age at time of diagnosis (p = 0.001), non-germ cell cancer in testes specimen (p = 0.004), and pathology of residual disease (p < 0.001) as significantly predictive of survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who undergo resection of residual lung or mediastinal disease for metastatic testicular NSGCT as a planned approach after cisplatin-based chemotherapy have overall excellent long-term survival. Survival is equivalent comparing hematogenous and lymphatic routes of metastases but depends on the pathology of the resected disease. These results justify an aggressive surgical approach, particularly to remove residual teratoma in the lung or mediastinum after chemotherapy, including multiple surgical procedures if necessary.

Thoracic metastasectomy for nonseminomatous germ cell tumors

Pulmonary metastases are common in patients after resection for nonseminomatous germ cell tumor of the testis. There is solid evidence that resection for residual pulmonary disease, after adjuvant chemotherapy, can provide patients with a long-term survival. This article addresses the issues of patient selection and prognostic factors with the current review of pulmonary metastasectomy in metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors retrieved from retrospective studies. In summary, there is a substantial body of evidence demonstrating that resection of residual lesions after chemotherapy can be performed safely with a low mortality rate. For a subset of patients with viable malignant tumor cells after chemotherapy, the overall results of a 5-year actuarial survival rate ranged between 42 and 61%. However, no presurgical algorithm had proven effective at predicting histologic outcome and, similar to that in pulmonary metastasectomy in general, no prospective randomized trials have been conducted to define the role of surgery versus a nonsurgical treatment regimen.