Successful treatment of good-risk disseminated testicular cancer with cisplatin, bleomycin, and reduced-dose vinblastine

Abstract

Cisplatin, vinblastine and bleomycin (PVB) is very effective therapy in disseminated testicular cancer, but toxicity is severe. A further reduction of vinblastine might reduce the acute toxicity of PVB without compromising the response rate in good-risk patients. Starting in March 1982, 42 consecutive patients with minimal or intermediate advanced disease (Iymph node metastases 1000 mIU/ml, only 2 (33.3%) entered continuous CR, versus 33 (91.6%) of the 36 patients with normal or less elevated markers (P <0.01). PVB with a 0.2-mg/kg vinblastine dosage is very effective and well-tolerated therapy in selected good-risk patients with disseminated germinal testis cancer.