Treatment of testicular tumors: analysis of treatment results of chemotherapy

Between 1968 and 1982 altogether 72 patients with malignant testicular tumors were treated at the Department of Radiotherapy of the Turku University Central Hospital. 49 patients had seminoma and 21 had non-seminoma, one had histiocytoma and one had sarcoma. The mean age of the patients was 39 years, and the mean age of those 25 who received chemotherapy was 25 years. Primary treatment was surgical for all patients; four patients had no further treatment, while the remaining patients received radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. 25 patients received chemotherapy. Seven of them were treated with one to seven courses of "triple drug therapy" (dactinomycin-chlorambucil-methotrexate). These patients died within two years from the time of dissemination. Ten patients were given different combinations or monotherapies and all except two patients, died within two years. CBV combination therapy was instituted in the 1970's and during the study period eight patients were treated with this combination. Six complete remissions were achieved. Two patients died of progressive disease. Chemotherapy was given for two to 30 months. The mean follow-up time for these patients was three years (32 to 42 months). Chemotherapy caused significant morbidity, but no long-lasting irreversible toxic side effects were detected. The results of the present study are promising and correspond to those reported elsewhere.