4 CYCLES OF BEP VERSUS AN ALTERNATING REGIME OF PVB AND BEP IN PATIENTS WITH POOR-PROGNOSIS METASTATIC TESTICULAR NONSEMINOMA - A RANDOMIZED STUDY OF THE EORTC GENITOURINARY TRACT CANCER COOPERATIVE GROUP

We have investigated whether an alternating induction chemotherapy regimen of PVB/BEP is superior to BEP in patients with poor-prognosis testicular non-seminoma. A total of 234 eligible patients were randomised to receive an alternating schedule of PVB/BEP for a total of foul cycles or four cycles of BEP. Poor prognosis Was defined as any of the following: lymph node metastases larger than 5 cm, lung metastases more than four in number or larger than 2 cm, haematogenic spread outside the lungs, such as in liver and bone, human chorionic gonadotrophin > 10000 IU 1(-1) or alphafetoprotein > 1000 IU 1(-1). The complete response (CR) rates to PVB/BEP and BEP were similar, 76% and 72% respectively (P = 0.58). In addition, there was no significant difference in relapse rate, disease-free and overall survival at an average follow-up of 6 years. The 5-year progression-free and survival rates in both treatment groups were approximatley 80%. The PVB/BEP regime was more toxic with regard to bone marrow function; the frequencies of leucocytes below 1000 mu l(-1), leucocytopenic fever and platelets below 25000 mu l(-1), throughout four cycles were 28% vs 5% (P < 0.001), 16% vs 5% (P = 0.006), and 10% vs 1% (P = 0.001) respectively. Neuropathy also occurred more often in the PVB/BEP arm: 47% vs 25% (P = 0.001). This study shows that an alternating regimen of PVB/BEP is not superior to BEP and that it is more myelo- and neurotoxic.