Weekly gemcitabine, paclitaxel, oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy in patients with Cisplatin-refractory germ cell tumor: preliminary experience

Am J Clin Oncol. 2004 Oct;27(5):457-60. doi: 10.1097/01.coc.0000128727.40450.9e.

Abstract

Although the overall cure rate for advanced germ cell tumor (GCT) is high, the prognosis for patients with cisplatin-refractory GCT remains poor. Gemcitabine, paclitaxel, and oxaliplatin have shown significant activity as single agents in these patients. We investigated the activity and tolerance of a weekly gemcitabine, paclitaxel, oxaliplatin chemotherapy regimen. From September 2000 to February 2002, 9 patients with cisplatin-refractory GCT were treated with gemcitabine 800 mg/m2, paclitaxel 70 mg/m2, and oxaliplatin 50 mg/m2, days 1, 8, and 15, every 4 weeks. Only 1 patient stayed on schedule. In 7 patients, chemotherapy treatment was modified due to grade 3-4 hematological toxicity, whereas in another patient, who received high-dose chemotherapy 2 months before, chemotherapy was administered biweekly. In total, 21 cycles were administered with a median of 2 cycles for each patient. One patient achieved a partial remission lasting 5 months, 1 had disease stabilization for 5 months, whereas 7 had progressive disease. This chemotherapy regimen was not feasible in our patient population. Recently, oxaliplatin at full doses, but not as weekly administration, has appeared to possess activity in cisplatin-refractory GCT. Thus, we plan a phase II study protocol of the oxaliplatin and gemcitabine combination at full doses every 3 weeks.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Cisplatin / therapeutic use
  • Deoxycytidine / administration & dosage
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Female
  • Gemcitabine
  • Germinoma / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Paclitaxel / administration & dosage
  • Survival Analysis
  • Testicular Neoplasms / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Organoplatinum Compounds
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Paclitaxel
  • Cisplatin
  • Gemcitabine