Clinical study of intracranial nongerminomatous germ cell tumors producing alpha-fetoprotein

Neurosurgery. 1990 Sep;27(3):454-60. doi: 10.1097/00006123-199009000-00020.

Abstract

We present six patients with intracranial nongerminomatous germ cell tumors that produced alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Their ages ranged from 8 to 20 years (average, 11.5 years old); two were male and four were female. Four of the tumors originated in the pineal region and two in the suprachiasmatic region. One patient treated with only radiation therapy died within 3 months of admission as a result of intraperitoneal metastasis via a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Another patient, treated with radiation therapy and intrathecal administration of neocarzinostatin, died after 12 months because of tumor progression and subarachnoid dissemination. Two patients who received radiation and combination therapy with cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin died after 13 and 25 months. The remaining two patients treated with radiation therapy and adjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin and etoposide) are now alive without recurrence after 16 and 19 months from admission. Adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide appears to be efficacious in the treatment of intracranial nongerminomatous germ cell tumor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood*
  • Bleomycin / administration & dosage
  • Brain Neoplasms / blood*
  • Brain Neoplasms / complications
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts
  • Child
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin / analysis
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Cranial Irradiation
  • Etoposide / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrocephalus / etiology
  • Hydrocephalus / surgery
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Proteins / blood*
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / blood*
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / complications
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / radiotherapy
  • Pineal Gland
  • Remission Induction
  • Vinblastine / administration & dosage
  • Zinostatin / administration & dosage
  • alpha-Fetoproteins / analysis*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • alpha-Fetoproteins
  • Bleomycin
  • Vinblastine
  • Etoposide
  • Zinostatin
  • Cisplatin

Supplementary concepts

  • PVB protocol