Disease characteristics and survival outcomes of extragonadal primary germ cell tumour in two Canadian tertiary cancer centres

Managing seminomatous and nonseminomatous germ cell tumors

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In the present review, we summarize the recent developments in the management of germ cell tumors (GCTs).

RECENT FINDINGS

Treatment-related acute and late-onset toxicity remains a key challenge in the management of GCTs, with recent evidence showing that the adverse health outcomes of etoposide and cisplatin for four cycles in comparison to bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin for three cycles appear to be similar. Recent data showed that multidisciplinary clinic approach and management in experienced academic centers were associated with improved overall survival in GCT patients. There are currently multiple conventional-dose chemotherapy options for salvage therapy in patients with refractory or recurrent disease. In addition, more efficacious high-dose chemotherapy regimens continue to be developed. The role of salvage conventional-dose chemotherapy versus high-dose chemotherapy is currently being investigated prospectively. Recent reports suggested that brentuximab vedotin could be a potential salvage option for cluster of differentiation 30 positive refractory GCTs. On the other hand the results of the first phase II clinical trial investigating pembrolizumab in refractory GCTs were disappointing showing no clinical activity.Finally, deep exploration of the immune profile of GCTs using immunohistochemistry and gene expression profiling has identified that advanced GCT stage was associated with decreased T-cell and Natural killer-cell signatures, whereas T regulatory, neutrophil, mast cell, and macrophage signatures increased with advanced stage. Even though these results indicated that activated T-cell infiltration correlated with seminoma histology and good prognosis, and could be used in the future as a biomarker, this approach needs to be validated in a large cohort.

SUMMARY

Remaining challenges to be addressed include minimizing therapeutic toxicity, and improving outcomes in patients with refractory/recurrent GCTs.

Recent developments in the management of germ cell tumors

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In the present review, we summarize the recent developments in the management of germ cell tumors (GCTs).

RECENT FINDINGS

Treatment-related acute and late-onset toxicity remains a key challenge in the management of GCTs. Recent data show that patients with large retroperitoneal lymph node metastases are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism and may benefit from prophylactic anticoagulation. Predictive models have been developed to identify patients with residual retroperitoneal lymph node masses who are more likely to benefit from surgical resection. However, their clinical use remains hampered by relatively low accuracy. There are currently multiple conventional-dose chemotherapy (CDCT) options for salvage therapy in patients with refractory or recurrent disease. In addition, more efficacious high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) regimens continue to be developed. The role of salvage CDCT versus HDCT is currently being prospectively investigated.Finally, intratumoral heterogeneity is a common finding in cancer and an obvious observation in GCTs. Despite intratumoral heterogeneity, recent studies on nonseminomatous GCT have identified distinct histological subgroups and a potentially lethal clinical phenotype. Importantly, comprehensive molecular profiling so far has not elucidated the biologic basis or the clinical underpinnings of intratumoral heterogeneity in GCTs.

SUMMARY

Remaining challenges to be addressed include minimizing therapeutic toxicity and improving outcomes in patients with refractory/recurrent GCTs or malignant transformation of teratomas.