Radical retroperitoneal node dissection after chemotherapy for testicular tumours

Role of post-chemotherapy surgery in germ cell tumors

Surgery after systemic chemotherapy for advanced testicular cancer has maintained its role in staging and therapeutic management. The clinical outcome is strongly influenced by patient selection and extent of extirpative surgery. Although extensive predictive modeling has attempted to define appropriate post-chemotherapy surgical candidates based on various clinical and pathologic parameters, the accuracy of these models remains controversial. Complete removal of all post-chemotherapy residual masses in nonseminomatous germ cell tumors remains the standard of care and allows for improved prognostication of the long-term oncologic and functional outcome.

Metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis: results of elective and salvage surgery for patients with residual retroperitoneal masses

BACKGROUND

A mass may persist in the para-aortic region after patients undergo chemotherapy for metastatic, nonseminomatous germ cell tumor of the testis (NSGCT). Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy removes the mass, which may contain residual active malignancy, and allows histologic assessment of the effectiveness of the chemotherapy. Whereas some have favored early, elective removal of such masses, others have chosen to observe them, reserving salvage surgery for patients who experience disease recurrence. A retrospective analysis was undertaken to define the outcome in these two groups of patients.

METHODS

After receiving chemotherapy for metastatic NSGCT, 442 men underwent lymphadenectomy for residual masses (measuring > or = 1 cm in greatest dimension) between 1976 and 1999, inclusive. Three hundred thirty men underwent elective surgery within 3 months of the completion of chemotherapy, and 112 men underwent salvage surgery after receiving reinduction chemotherapy for tumor recurrence.

RESULTS

The residual mass was removed completely in 87% and 72% of patients in the elective and salvage lymphadenectomy groups, respectively; was removed with difficulty and possibly incompletely in 9% and 21% of patients, respectively; and was definitely removed incompletely in 4% and 7% of patients, respectively. The operative mortality rate was 0.9% in the elective surgery group and 1.8% in the salvage surgery group. There was malignant teratoma, undifferentiated in 8.5% of patients in the elective surgery group and in 49% of patients in the salvage surgery group (P < 0.001). Differentiated teratoma and necrosis/fibrosis were present in 66.0% and 25.4% of patients in the elective surgery group, respectively, and in 38.4% and 12.5% of patients in the salvage surgery group, respectively. The authors were unable to produce a clinically useful model to predict the presence of necrosis/fibrosis only in either group. The 5-year recurrence free and overall survival rates were 83% and 89%, respectively, in the elective surgery group and 62% and 56%, respectively, in the salvage surgery group. For the salvage surgery group, the completeness of surgical excision and the presence of undifferentiated teratoma were of overriding importance for overall survival. A variety of other patient-related, tumor-related, and surgery-related factors also were significant in the final model for the elective surgery group.

CONCLUSIONS

The current results demonstrate the low level of morbidity that can be obtained, even in the salvage surgery group, and the importance of complete surgical resection in this setting. Because it is not possible to predict with sufficient accuracy which patients will have favorable pathology (necrosis/fibrosis), the authors continue to recommend elective surgery for all suitable men with residual masses after they receive first-line chemotherapy.

Excision of residual masses of metastatic germ cell tumours after chemotherapy: the role of extraperitoneal surgical approaches

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of extraperitoneal surgical approaches for the removal of residual masses of metastatic germ cell tumours in men after chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A series of 75 men (median age 32 years) with metastatic germ cell tumours of testicular (n = 63) or extragonadal (n = 12) origin, who had been treated with an intensive course of platinum-based chemotherapy, were found to have residual tumour masses. Extraperitoneal surgical approaches were used on 80 occasions to excise these masses. A thoraco-abdominal extraperitoneal approach (n = 71) was used for large masses and those with intrathoracic metastases while smaller retroperitoneal masses were removed through 12th rib (n = 5) or Rutherford-Morrison (n = 4) extraperitoneal approaches.

RESULTS

Complete macroscopic clearance of residual masses within the thorax and retroperitoneum was achieved in all cases. The median blood loss was 0.8 L and the median in-patient stay was 7 days. Complications included chest infection in four cases. Two patients died about 4 weeks after surgery, one from septic pericarditis and another after an epileptic fit secondary to brain metastases. Eleven patients have developed tumour recurrence, five of whom have died from disseminated disease. Hence the survival rate and disease-free survival rate are 91% and 83%, respectively, with a median follow-up of 22 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The thoraco-abdominal extraperitoneal surgical approach for retroperitoneal lymph node dissection after chemotherapy for testicular cancer is safe and has some advantages over anterior approaches, allowing synchronous removal of intrathoracic disease, improved access to nodes above and behind the renal vessels and more rapid post-operative recovery.

Surgical resection in patients with nonseminomatous germ cell tumor who fail to normalize serum tumor markers after chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE

Patients with high-stage nonseminomatous germ cell tumors treated with platinum-based chemotherapy who have residual radiographic evidence of disease and fail to normalize tumor markers present a difficult clinical dilemma. Some authors feel that these patients are not appropriate surgical candidates. Our practice has been to offer certain patients salvage surgery in an attempt for cure. This report is designed to review that experience and critically analyze the results.

METHOD

We report a series of 16 such patients with advanced-stage nonseminomatous germ cell tumors who had persistently elevated alpha fetoprotein and/or human chorionic gonadotropin. All underwent resection of all radiographically evident sites of residual disease following induction or salvage chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Ten patients had only retroperitoneal (RP) metastasis. Six patients had more than one site of residual disease--4 RP and lung, 2 RP and liver. There were no postoperative deaths. The mean postoperative stay was eleven days (range 7 to 36 days). Six patients (37%) are alive and free of disease at a mean of seventy-four months following surgery (range 20 to 145 months). Five had RP disease only. Ten patients died of disease at a mean of eight months postoperatively (range 5 to 21 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with advanced nonseminomatous germ cell tumor who fail to normalize their serum tumor markers after adequate platinum-based chemotherapy should be considered for surgical resection of all radiographically evident residual disease. In select cases this practice offers the only viable chance for cure.

Para-aortic lymphadenectomy after chemotherapy for metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumours: prognostic value and therapeutic benefit

Between 1976 and 1990, 231 patients had excision of para-aortic lymph node masses remaining after chemotherapy for metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumours. The overall 5-year survival rate was 80%. Multivariate analysis of survival after surgery was performed and the following were found to be independent prognostic variables: completeness of surgical excision, pathology of excised mass, timing of surgery after chemotherapy (elective versus salvage) and year of treatment (before or after 1984). Para-aortic lymphadenectomy provided both therapeutic benefit and histological information of prognostic value in planning future treatment and follow-up. Size of mass and serum markers at the time of surgery were of no additional prognostic value once completeness of excision and pathology were taken into account. We therefore recommend that all residual masses should be removed soon after completion of chemotherapy.

Surgery following chemotherapy for metastatic testicular teratoma

Twenty patients with metastatic testicular teratoma underwent surgery for residual disease after chemotherapy. Twelve patients in whom complete excision of all residual masses was possible are alive with no evidence of disease. Four patients have died of malignant teratoma, 2 have active malignant disease and 2 have inoperable residual cystic disease. Patients with malignant teratoma intermediate (MTI) primary testis tumours, and those with bulky abdominal disease at presentation, are more likely to have residual masses requiring excision. Completeness of excision appears to be the most important predictor of disease-free survival.

The growing teratoma syndrome

Thirteen patients with metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumours and enlarging metastases consisting of teratoma differentiated only were identified. Patients were managed with surgical resection soon after the growing lesions were documented. Surgical morbidity was minimal and 12 patients are alive (10 are disease-free) at a median follow-up of 28 months.

Findings in lymph nodes of patients with germ cell tumours after chemotherapy and their relation to prognosis

One hundred and forty six patients with advanced germ cell testicular tumours (38 seminomas and 108 malignant teratomas) treated by combination chemotherapy were studied over 10 years. Most of the improvement seen was in patients with malignant teratoma undifferentiated. In the most recently treated patients (1984-1987) 75% of drug resistant cases were malignant teratoma intermediate compared with 26% in the series treated between 1978-1983. The microscopic features of 52 primary testicular tumours were compared with features seen in excised retroperitoneal lymph nodes after completion of chemotherapy. Primary malignant teratoma intermediate had a higher incidence of viable malignancy in the excised tissue than malignant teratoma undifferentiated. Mature teratoma or fibronecrotic tissue within resected tissue was associated with a good prognosis. If resection was complete patients with drug resistant malignant teratoma intermediate had a more favourable prognosis than drug resistant malignant teratoma undifferentiated. It is advised that retroperitoneal node dissection should be considered in the management of patients with advanced germ cell testicular tumours, and that as complete a resection as possible be attempted to avoid the danger of missing residual disease.