Lenalidomide in patients with cisplatin-refractory and multiply relapsed germ cell tumors

Objective

Treatment options are still limited in patients with cisplatin-refractory and multiply relapsed germ cell tumors. We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of lenalidomide within a compassionate use concept.

Patients and methods

Four patients multiply relapsed after platin-based chemotherapies without any further standard treatment option received 25 mg lenalidomide orally on days 1–21 of a 28-day cycle.

Results

All four patients were pretreated with a median number of seven lines of previous chemotherapy (range 4–8), all including platin-based high-dose chemotherapy. After 4 weeks of lenalidomide treatment all patients had progressive disease with increase in serum tumor markers and progression in computed tomography. Median survival time was 8 weeks (range 5–17). The toxicity profile was favorable. No severe toxicities related to lenalidomide occurred in these patients.

Conclusion

Lenalidomide was well tolerated and showed efficacy in heavily pretreated patients with cisplatin-refractory and multiply relapsed germ cell tumors.