Prognostic significance of a decline in serum human chorionic gonadotropin levels after initial chemotherapy for advanced germ-cell carcinoma

Serum Tumor Marker Half-Life during Chemotherapy in Patients with Germ Cell Tumors

Approximately 80% of previously untreated men with metastatic germ cell tumors will be cured with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Serum levels of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) or human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or both are increased in most of these patients. Pre-treatment clinical characteristics can be used to distinguish between “good” and “poor” risk patients who are either highly likely or unlikely to achieve a complete remission, respectively. A slow rate of decline of either AFP or HCG or both has been associated with an inferior survival in both good and poor risk patients. In multivariate analysis, the pre-treatment risk status and the post-treatment clearance of markers were independent and equal prognostic variables. Similarly, in patients receiving cisplatin + ifosfamide-based salvage chemotherapy, the rate of decline of HCG was an independent predictor variable in addition to the primary site and pre-treatment HCG levels for both overall and event-free survival. Prolonged half-life clearance of serum tumor markers is an important prognostic variable in both previously untreated as well as previously treated germ cel tumor patients. Treatment strategies can be based on marker clearance and prospective clinical trials are warranted.

Afp and Hcg in Germ Cell Tumors

The high specificity and sensitivity of testicular tumor markers make them particularly useful in the management of these neoplasms. Basal value represents an independent prognostic variable, influencing the choice of therapy. An increase in marker level before chemotherapy could also acquire a powerful prognostic significance. The decay curve pattern is indicative of the radicality of surgery. Also during chemotherapy the behavior of markers conditions further therapeutic strategies.

Population-based study of treatment guided by tumor marker decline in patients with metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumor: a report from the Swedish-Norwegian Testicular Cancer Group

PURPOSE

From 1995 to 2003, 603 adult patients from Sweden and Norway with metastatic testicular nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT) were included prospectively in a population-based protocol with strict guidelines for staging, treatment, and follow-up. Patients with extragonadal primary tumor or previous treatment for contralateral testicular tumor were excluded. The basic strategy was to individualize treatment according to initial tumor marker response.

METHODS

Initial treatment for all patients was two courses of standard bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP), with tumor markers analyzed weekly. Good response was defined as a half-life (t(1/2)) for α-fetoprotein (AFP) of ≤ 7 days and/or for β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) of ≤ 3 days. Patients with prolonged marker t(1/2) (ie, poor response) received intensification with addition of ifosfamide (BEP-if/PEI) in step 1. If poor response continued, the treatment was intensified with high-dose chemotherapy with stem-cell rescue as step 2.

RESULTS

Overall, 99% of all patients with metastatic testicular NSGCT in the population were included in the protocol. Median follow-up was 8.2 years. Seventy-seven percent of the patients were treated with BEP alone; 18% received intensification step 1%, and 5% received intensification step 2. Grouped according to International Germ Cell Consensus Classification, 10-year overall survival was 94.7% in good-prognosis patients, 90.0% in intermediate-prognosis patients, and 67.4% in poor-prognosis patients.

CONCLUSION

With detailed treatment protocols and a dedicated collaborative group of specialists, treatment results comparable to those reported from large single institutions can be achieved at national level. With the treatment principles used in Swedish-Norwegian Testicular Cancer Group study SWENOTECA IV, the survival of intermediate-prognosis patients is remarkable and close to that of good-prognosis patients.

The prognostic value of tumor markers in newly diagnosed patients with primary central nervous system germ cell tumors

BACKGROUND

To determine the impact of diagnostic serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (b-HCG) elevations on survival in newly diagnosed patients with central nervous system germ cell tumors (CNS GCT) treated with chemotherapy with the intent to avoid irradiation.

PROCEDURE

Seventy-five patients with newly diagnosed CNS GCT enrolled in two sequential internationally conducted clinical trials with serum and CSF AFP and b-HCG levels available from initial diagnosis were retrospectively analyzed. Subjects received platinum based chemotherapy and were followed with serial imaging and tumor marker evaluations.

RESULTS

The 5-year overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS) for patients with normal tumor markers compared with those with elevated markers at diagnosis was 78% (95% CI 51-91%) versus 60% (95% CI 46-72%) (P = 0.08) and 22% (95% CI 7-43%) versus 28% (95% CI 16-40%) (P = 0.68). The hazard ratio of death for patients with elevated markers was 1.9 times as high as that for those with normal markers (95% CI 0.58-6.5) after adjusting for other baseline characteristics. There was no observed difference in survival among patients with histologically confirmed germinomas, irrespective of level of b-HCG.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with elevated tumor markers appear to have poorer OS independent of tumor histology, although these differences do not reach statistical significance (P < or = 0.05). No differences were observed in EFS between groups likely due to the poor response of chemotherapy only approach to patients with normal markers. b-HCG elevations in biopsy proven germinomas do not seem to alter a patient's prognosis.

Phase III randomized trial of conventional-dose chemotherapy with or without high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem-cell rescue as first-line treatment for patients with poor-prognosis metastatic germ cell tumors

PURPOSE

To investigate the role of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) as first-line treatment in patients with metastatic germ cell tumor (GCT) and poor-prognostic clinical features. Serum tumor marker decline during chemotherapy was assessed prospectively as a predictor of treatment outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this randomized phase III trial, previously untreated patients with intermediate- or poor-risk GCT received either four cycles of standard bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP alone), or two cycles of BEP followed by two cycles of HDCT containing carboplatin and then by hematopoietic stem-cell rescue (BEP + HDCT). Serum tumor markers alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotrophin were correlated with treatment outcome as a secondary end point.

RESULTS

Two hundred nineteen patients were randomly assigned: 108 to BEP + HDCT and 111 to BEP alone. The 1-year durable complete response rate was 52% after BEP + HDCT and 48% after BEP alone (P = .53). Patients with slow serum tumor marker decline (alpha-fetoprotein and/or human chorionic gonadotrophin) during the first two cycles of chemotherapy had a shorter progression-free survival and overall survival compared with patients with satisfactory marker decline (P = .02 and P = .03, respectively). Among 67 patients with unsatisfactory marker decline, the 1-year durable complete response proportion was 61% for patients who received HDCT versus 34% for patients receiving BEP alone (P = .03).

CONCLUSION

The routine inclusion of HDCT in first-line treatment for GCT patients with metastases and a poor predicted outcome to chemotherapy did not improve treatment outcome. Frequent serum marker determinations to estimate marker decline during the first two cycles of BEP chemotherapy provide a clinically useful estimate of outcome.

One cycle of bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin plus two cycles of etopeside and cisplatin chemotherapy in selected patients with low-volume stage II nonseminomatous germ cell tumor of the testis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility of bleomycin omission from second and third cycles of bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP) chemotherapy in low-volume stage II nonseminomatous germ cell tumor patients who achieve a normal tumor marker level after the first cycle of treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Out of 59 nonseminomatous testicular cancer patients with low-volume retroperitoneal disease, serum markers normalized after the first cycle of treatment in 30 cases. 12 patients completed 3BEP (group 1; years 1994-1998) and other 18 patients received etoposide and cisplatin (EP) as second and third cycles of chemotherapy (group 2; years 1998-2004).

RESULTS

All patients from each group achieved complete response with chemotherapy alone or by subsequent resection of teratoma or necrosis. There was no relapse with active cancer after the treatment. All patients remained disease-free during the median follow-up period of 97 and 48 months for groups 1 and 2 respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

One cycle of BEP plus two cycles of EP chemotherapy was as effective as three standard cycles of BEP. The regimen can be suggested as a less toxic therapeutic alternative in these selected patients. More cases, however, in a prospective randomized setting are required to further verify these data.

Early predicted time to normalization of tumor markers predicts outcome in poor-prognosis nonseminomatous germ cell tumors

PURPOSE

The prognostic relevance of the rate of decline of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) during the first 3 weeks of chemotherapy for nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) was studied in the context of the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) classification.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data from 653 patients prospectively recruited in clinical trials were studied. Tumor markers were obtained before chemotherapy and 3 weeks later. Decline rates were calculated using a logarithmic formula and expressed as a predicted time to normalization (TTN). A favorable TTN was defined when both AFP and HCG had a favorable decline rate, including cases with normal values.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 50 months (range, 2 to 151 months). Tumor decline rate expressed as a predicted TTN was associated with both progression-free survival (PFS; P <.0001) and overall survival (OS; P <.0001). The 4-year PFS rates were 64% and 38% in patients from the poor-prognosis group who had a favorable and an unfavorable TTN, respectively. The 4-year OS rates were 83% and 58%, respectively. This effect was independent from the initial tumor marker values, the primary tumor site, and the presence of nonpulmonary visceral metastases: tumor marker decline rate remained a strong predictor for both PFS (hazard ratio = 2.5; P =.01) and OS (hazard ratio = 4.6; P =.002) in patients from the IGCCCG poor-prognosis group in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

Early predicted time to tumor marker normalization is an independent prognostic factor in patients with poor-prognosis NSGCT and may be a useful tool in the therapeutic management of these patients.

Predicting outcome to chemotherapy in patients with germ cell tumors: the value of the rate of decline of human chorionic gonadotrophin and alpha-fetoprotein during therapy

PURPOSE

The prognostic significance of the rate of decline of the serum tumor marker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) during the first two cycles of chemotherapy in germ cell tumor (GCT) patients was initially reported by us, but its value has been debated. We re-examined this issue in the context of the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) risk classification system and investigated the role of including in the analysis patients whose markers normalized early.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred eighty-nine GCT patients with elevated AFP/HCG marker values treated with platinum-based chemotherapy between 1986 and 1998 were included in this analysis. Patients were classified as good, intermediate, or poor risk by the IGCCCG criteria and as having satisfactory or unsatisfactory marker decline. Risk and marker decline were correlated with response, event-free survival, and overall survival.

RESULTS

Satisfactory marker decline predicted improved complete response (CR) proportion and event-free and overall survival (P <.0001). The CR proportion, 2-year event-free, and 2-year overall survival rates for patients with a satisfactory and unsatisfactory marker decline were 92% versus 62%, 91% versus 69%, and 95% versus 72%, respectively. Marker decline remained a significant variable for all three end points when adjusted for risk (P <.01) with the outcome differences most pronounced in the poor-risk group.

CONCLUSION

The rate of marker decline during chemotherapy has prognostic value independent of risk and may play a significant role in the management of poor-risk patients. It is appropriate to include patients whose markers normalized early.

Response during radiotherapy may be associated with outcome in mediastinal Hodgkin's disease

A relationship between the rate of regression of lymphomas treated with chemotherapy and long-term outcome has been observed. This study was undertaken to determine if the rate of tumor regression during radiotherapy for mediastinal Hodgkin's disease is a predictor of in-field recurrence. Twenty-nine patients with early-stage Hodgkin's disease treated with radiotherapy alone as part of an NCI randomized trial had both a non-massive mediastinal component of disease and all requisite simulation and port films available for analysis. The histology was nodular sclerosis in all patients. Stage distribution was as follows: IA-1; IIA-17; IIB-8; IIIA1-3. The median age was 27 years and the median radiation dose was 4470 cGy. A mediastinal mass ratio was calculated from each patient's simulation and weekly port films by dividing the width of the mediastinal mass by the intrathoracic diameter at the level of the carina. Histopathologic correlation was also done to quantify the degree of tumor vs. sclerosis in the specimens. Univariate analysis and Cox proportional hazards analysis were used to study the association between several covariates (stage, sex, symptoms, extra-lymphatic disease, initial mediastinal mass ratio, age, dose, percent tumor in the specimen, and cumulative percentage of tumor regression) and time to in-field recurrence, as well as probability of any failure. Univariate analysis indicates that lower dose, higher percent tumor in the specimen, and lower cumulative percent regression are statistically significant predictors for in-field recurrence, as well as for any failure. By Cox regression analysis, cumulative percent regression is the sole factor independently associated with in-field recurrence (two-tailed P=0.04). The percent tumor in the specimen is the only factor similarly identified for time to any failure (two-tailed P=0.02). Histopathologic correlation suggests that patients with early stage mediastinal Hodgkin's disease who demonstrate a high percent tumor in the specimen may be at increased risk of failure. Patients with a low cumulative percent regression during radiotherapy appear to be at an increased risk of in-field recurrence.

Kinetics of Serum Tumor Marker Concentrations and Usefulness in Clinical Monitoring

Only a few markers have been instrumental in the diagnosis of cancer. In contrast, tumor markers play a critical role in the monitoring of patients. The patient’s clinical status and response to treatment can be evaluated rapidly using the tumor marker half-life (t1/2) and the tumor marker doubling time (DT). This report reviews the interest of determining these kinetic parameters for prostate-specific antigen, human chorionic gonadotropin, α-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, cancer antigen (CA) 125, and CA 15-3. A rise in tumor markers (DT) is a yardstick with which benign diseases can be distinguished from metastatic disease, and the DT can be used to assess the efficacy of treatments. A decline in the tumor marker concentration (t1/2) is a predictor of possible residual disease if the timing of blood sampling is soon after therapy. The discrepancies in results obtained by different groups may be attributable to the multiplicity of immunoassays, the intrinsic characteristics of each marker (e.g., antigen specificity, molecular heterogeneity, and associated forms), individual factors (e.g., nonspecific increases and renal and hepatic diseases) and methods used to calculate kinetics (e.g., exponential models and timing of blood sampling). This kinetic approach could be of interest to optimize patient management.

Prognostic significance of marker half-life during chemotherapy in non-seminomatous germ cell testicular tumors

Decrease in serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels is considered as a response during chemotherapy of non-seminomatous germ cell testicular tumors, but data on the prognostic significance of marker half-life remains inconclusive. Serum marker half-life was evaluated in 34 patients with elevated markers, receiving chemotherapy (CT). Marker half-life was calculated from the natural logarithm of the sequential AFP or HCG concentrations. The correlation between event-free (EFS) and overall survival (OS) with unfavorable half-lives of AFP and HCG was evaluated. Median actual half-life (AHL) AFP was 3.9 days (range, 1.4-21.5) and median AHL HCG was 4.4 days (range, 1.4-21.0); 82% of the patients had a satisfactory initial decline in AFP, and 71% had a satisfactory initial decline in HCG. There was a significant difference in EFS and OS between the two groups of patients with an AFP half-life < 7 days and > 7 days. HCG half-life did not adversely affect EFS and OS. The correlation of better EFS and OS with appropriate AFP marker half-life during chemotherapy could provide a dynamic method, which could complement the standard baseline prognostic factors, for the prediction of prognosis.

The serum level of markers during chemotherapy as prognostic indicator in testicular GCT

The high specificity and sensitivity of testicular tumour markers AFP and HCG make them particularly useful in the management of these neoplasms. Basai value represents an independent prognostic variable, influencing the choice of therapy. An increase in marker level before chemotherapy may also acquire a powerful prognostic significance. The decay curve pattern is indicative of the radicality of surgery. Also during chemotherapy the behaviour of markers conditions further therapeutiG strategies.

Serum tumor marker decline is an early predictor of treatment outcome in germ cell tumor patients treated with cisplatin and ifosfamide salvage chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Serum tumor marker regression (alpha-fetoprotein [AFP] and human chorionic gonadotrophin [hCG]) was studied in patients treated with ifosfamide-based chemotherapy for cisplatin-resistant germ cell tumors (GCT) to investigate the role of marker regression as a predictor of treatment outcome.

METHODS

Fifty-four patients treated with cisplatin and ifosfamide-containing therapy were the subject of this retrospective analysis. The serum tumor marker half-life (T1/2) for the first two cycles of therapy was calculated for each patient using all marker values Day 7 through the end of the second treatment cycle. A calculated T1/2 for hCG of less than or equal to 3 days or a calculated T1/2 for AFP of less than or equal to 7 days was defined as appropriate marker regression; any T1/2 greater than these values was considered prolonged. A variable designated "marker decline" was defined to indicate whether the serum tumor marker half-life of AFP and/or hCG was satisfactory or unsatisfactory for each individual patient. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to investigate "marker decline" as a predictor for response, event-free survival (time to death or relapse), and overall survival.

RESULTS

Satisfactory marker decline predicted an improved event-free survival and overall survival. The median event-free survival for patients with an unsatisfactory marker decline was 5.8 months versus 20.7 months for patients with a satisfactory marker decline. Survival for patients with an unsatisfactory marker decline was 6.3 months versus 20.7 months for those patients with a satisfactory marker decline. Further evaluation demonstrated that hCG decline was a stronger predictor for improved survival than AFP decline. A multivariate analysis performed on selected clinical variables using a Cox regression model demonstrated that marker decline, pretreatment hCG, and primary site were independent predictors for event-free and overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of serum AFP and/or hCG decline during the first two cycles of therapy was predictive for event-free and overall survival in GCT patients treated with ifosfamide-based salvage therapy. Those patients with an appropriate serum tumor marker decline had a longer event-free and overall survival. When evaluated separately, the rate of hCG decline was more predictive of treatment outcome than decline of AFP. The rate of serum tumor marker regression during the first two cycles of therapy is a clinically useful tool in assessing treatment outcome at an early point in therapy and may thereby identify patients who could benefit from a change to more intensive therapy.

Prognostic implications of tumour marker analysis in non-seminomatous germ cell tumours with poor prognosis metastatic disease

86 unselected patients with poor risk metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCT) treated from 1979 to 1990 at a single institution were reviewed with regard to the prognostic relevance of tumour marker analysis. The number of elevated tumour markers was not able to distinguish patients into prognostic subgroups. Pretreatment levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) did not have a significant influence on clinical outcome. HCG and AFP half-life analysis during the first chemotherapy cycles also failed to define prognostic subgroups. If early deaths within 90 days after the onset of chemotherapy were excluded, patients with a half-life of HCG decline greater than 3.5 days tended to have a poorer prognosis which did not reach significance.

New approaches to the management of poor prognosis non-seminomatous germ cell tumours

While most patients with disseminated non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCT) are cured by treatment with cisplatinum-based chemotherapy, a subset die from refractory or relapsing disease. Poor prognostic factors at diagnosis include bulky disease, visceral involvement, high serum marker levels and an inadequate rate of fall in these markers in response to treatment. There are a number of approaches to poorer risk patients. One is to use conventional induction chemotherapy followed by second-line salvage regimens in those who fail induction. Results with this approach have been disappointing. A second approach is to use more intensive induction regimens, in some cases with growth factor support; whether these are superior to standard treatment has yet to be established by randomised studies. A third approach, based on the chemotherapy-dose responsiveness of NSGCT, consists of the administration of very high dose chemotherapy followed by haematological rescue with autologous marrow to patients failing initial therapy. Review of autograft studies suggest that durable remissions can be obtained in most patients with responsive disease, but not if the disease is chemotherapy-refractory. A new approach may be elective early autografting in patients identified at diagnosis to have very poor prognosis disease.

Computer system for assisting with clinical interpretation of tumour marker data

OBJECTIVE

To design and evaluate a computer advisory system for the treatment of gestational trophoblastic tumour.

DESIGN

A comparison of clinicians' treatment decisions with those of the computer system. Two datasets were used: one to calibrate the system and one to independently evaluate it.

SETTING

Department of medical oncology.

PATIENTS

Computerised records of 290 patients with low risk gestational trophoblastic tumour for whom the advisory system could predict the adequacy of treatment. The calibration set comprised patients admitted during 1979-86(227) and the test set patients during 1986-89(63).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The system's accuracy in predicting need to change treatment compared with clinicians' actions. The mean time faster that the system was in predicting the need to change treatment.

RESULTS

On the calibration dataset the system was 94% (164/174) accurate in predicting patients whose treatment was adequate, recommending change when none occurred in only 10 (6%) patients. In patients whose treatment was changed the system recommended change earlier than clinicians in 39/53 cases (74%), with a mean time advantage of 14.9 (SE 2.02) days. On the test dataset the system had an accuracy of 91% (31/34) in predicting treatment adequacy and a false positive rate of 9% (3/34). The system recommended change earlier than clinicians in 22/29 cases (76%), with a mean time advantage of 12.5 (2.22) days.

CONCLUSIONS

The computer advisory system could improve patient management by reducing the time spent receiving ineffective treatment. This has implications for both patient time and clinical costs.

Clinical use of tumor markers in oncology

The perfect tumor marker would be one that was produced solely by a tumor and secreted in measurable amounts into body fluids, it should be present only in the presence of cancer, it should identify cancer before it has spread beyond a localized site (i.e., be useful in screening), its quantitative amount in bodily fluids should reflect the bulk of tumor, and the level of the marker should reflect responses to treatment and progressive disease. Unfortunately, no such marker currently exists, although a number of useful but imperfect markers are available. The predominant contemporary markers are discussed here by chemical class, as follows: glycoprotein markers, including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG), and prostate specific antigen (PSA); mucinous glycoproteins, including CA 15-3, CA 19-9, mucinous-like cancer antigen and associated antigens, and CA 125; enzymes, including prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), neuron specific enolase (NSE), lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH), and placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP); hormones and related endocrine molecules, including calcitonin, thyroglobulin, and catecholamines; and, molecules of the immune system, including immunoglobulins and beta-2-microglobulin. The biologic properties of each group of tumor markers are discussed, along with our assessment of their role in clinical medicine today.

MACOP-B treatment for advanced stage diffuse large cell lymphoma: a multicenter Italian Study

Seventy-one patients with advanced stage diffuse large cell lymphoma were treated with MACOP-B. Sixty-nine per cent of patients achieved a complete response (CR), 10% a partial remission, while 11% had no response and 10% died because of toxicity. The CR rate was adversely affected by immunoblastic type, poor performance status and bone marrow involvement. Two-year survival for all 71 patients was 55% and 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) for the 49 CRs was 73%. Relapses were lower (P less than 0.05) in patients achieving CR in 8 weeks or less (DFS 83% vs. 59%) and in patients without tumor bulk (DFS 87% vs. 54%). Overall toxicity was acceptable with mucositis proving to be the most frequent severe side-effect. However, treatment-related deaths were unacceptably high in patients over 59 years of age (30% vs. 7%). Thus for the elderly MACOP-B is potentially lethal and must be used cautiously. These preliminary results confirm the effectiveness of MACOP-B. The delay of response and/or the presence of tumor bulk may be important prognostic factors in identifying a subset of poor risk patients with a high incidence of relapse.

Testicular cancer

Although testicular cancer is a relatively rare tumor, it is the most common cancer among men aged 15 to 35 years. In the United States in 1989 approximately 5,500 men will be diagnosed with testicular cancer. Up until 2 decades ago, testicular cancer was the most common cause of a cancer death in this age group. The advances in diagnosis and treatment that will be described in this monograph represent one of the major achievements in the treatment of solid tumors. Testicular cancer is now one of the most curable of all cancers; the 5-year relative survival rate is in excess of 90%. In the U.S. fewer than 500 men will die from this disease in 1989. The primary goals in the treatment of testicular cancer as the 1990s approach will be to further decrease the mortality from this disease and to decrease the morbidity of treatment that has led to this dramatic improvement in survival.

Response of mediastinal Hodgkin's disease to radiotherapy: rate of tumor regression not predictive of outcome

The record of 18 patients with Stage II Hodgkin's disease and large mediastinal masses, who received radiation therapy as sole treatment for their disease, were reviewed. The ratio of each patient's maximum tumor diameter to his maximum transthoracic diameter was measured from radiographs taken prior to treatment, and at two intervals approximating 1/3 and 2/3 the total radiation dose. The slopes of the resulting graphed data points were correlated with patient outcomes. No correlation could be drawn between prompt or slow tumor regression and freedom from tumor recurrence. It is concluded that the rate of tumor mass regression in Hodgkin's disease is not predictive of the ultimate success or failure of radiation therapy, and should not be used as a criterion by which to judge the need for additional systemic chemotherapy.

Predictive value of the early response to chemotherapy in high-risk stages II and III Hodgkin's disease

A series of 60 patients with "high risk" Stage II and III Hodgkin's disease (B symptoms, or large mediastinal mass, or E lung disease) were staged without laparotomy and treated with combined modality treatment: mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (6 MOPP) plus radiotherapy. Patients were restaged after the first three courses of MOPP and the status of response to therapy at that time was called early response to chemotherapy (ERC). The rate of nitrogen mustard and procarbazine delivery (MRD) during the first three cycles of chemotherapy also was assessed. At the completion of the therapy patients were restaged and the final response was assessed. Fifty-two (86.7%) patients entered complete remission (CR). Forty-eight percent of the complete responders achieved CR in the first three courses of MOPP. Eight-year survival and disease-free survival (DFS) rates of the patients achieving CR were 71% and 73%, respectively. Survival and DFS were significantly better for the patients who achieved CR in the first three cycles of chemotherapy than for patients who entered CR at a later stage of therapy: 8-year survival 90% versus 55% (P = 0.00); 8-year DFS 87% versus 59% (P = 0.01). The attainment of a complete ERC was adversely affected by lymphocyte depletion (LD) histologic type (P = 0.01) and MRD less than 65% (P = 0.04). However, when a multivariate regression analysis was used, ERC was the only significant prognostic variable for survival and DFS and its predictive value was confirmed even after correction by MRD. These data suggest that the rapidity of response to chemotherapy could be an important prognostic factor in high-risk Stage II and III Hodgkin's disease.

False positive beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in testicular cancer

Persistent elevations in serum markers after chemotherapy for germ cell testicular carcinoma indicate residual disease. We report on a patient with advanced seminoma with choriocarcinoma who had elevated serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) and residual masses on computerized tomography scan after chemotherapy. Wedge liver resection and retroperitoneal node dissection yielded only necrotic tissue which assayed and immunoperoxidase stained positively for beta-HCG. Serum beta-HCG fell to undetectable levels postoperatively, and the patient remains disease-free after three years. Phagocytosis of necrotic tumor apparently released entrapped beta-HCG resulting in a false positive tumor marker.

Prognostic factors in metastatic testicular cancer

The prognosis for metastatic testicular cancer has been analysed in seven reports using multivariate analysis. Serum hCG is the most important factor. Volume of metastases, serum LDH and serum AFP are also of prognostic value. Bone, liver, nodal or retroperitoneal metastases are not independent prognostic factors. The prognosis for extragonadal nonseminomas remains in dispute. Future studies should categorize poor prognosis patients using one of the several available prognostic formulas. No consensus yet exists on optimal treatment for such patients.

Elevated beta-human chorionic gonadotropin and a search for cancer

Elevated human chorionic gonadotropin levels may be an early, and occasionally the only, manifestation of embryonal cell carcinoma. A 24-year-old man presented with gynecomastia, galactorrhea, and elevated beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels, which led to an extensive (but nonrevealing) search, including computed tomography and selective testicular vein catheterization, for malignancy. Since the testicle was considered as the most likely site of tumor, right orchiectomy and right common iliac lymph node biopsy were performed. The testicle was normal, but the lymph node contained elements of embryonal and choriocarcinoma. Following chemotherapy, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels were normalized and the patient appears "cured." This case emphasizes the need for an extensive search for malignancy and consideration of orchiectomy in such instances in order to achieve a favorable outcome.

Clinical utility of oncofetal proteins and hormones as tumor markers

This article reviews the two most common hormones that act as tumor markers, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and prolactin, and the two most common oncofetal proteins, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and alpha-feto-protein (AFP). Assays for these markers are discussed in terms of their methodologies and performance in the clinical setting.

Tumor markers: value and limitations in the management of cancer patients

Sixteen tumor markers are reviewed, and measured to the ideal: produced by the tumor cell alone absent in health and in benign disease present in all patients with a given malignancy level in the blood representative of tumor mass detectable in occult disease. The only marker that approaches the ideal is human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in gestational trophoblastic tumors. In this malignancy, the HCG level suggests the diagnosis and stage, confirms response to therapy, and predicts relapse. The three most widely used and intensely studied tumor markers are carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alphafetoprotein (AFP), and HCG. CEA cannot be used in screening for cancer, but in carcinoma of the colon its elevation preoperatively increases the likelihood of advanced disease and postoperative recurrence. Postoperatively, elevated titers are often but not invariably associated with recurrent disease. AFP and HCG are useful in the management of nonseminomatous germ cell testicular tumors. Like CEA, they cannot be used for screening. They are more likely to be increased with advancing stage, and after therapy rising levels almost always mean recurrent disease. Some markers are valuable in specific circumstances, such as calcitonin in screening for familial medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. In multiple myeloma, immunoglobulins are useful in determining the tumor mass and response to therapy. In neuroblastoma, catecholamine metabolites are useful primarily in making the diagnosis. In some malignancies, the absence of effective therapy lowers the value of the marker, as for AFP in hepatoma. The remaining markers are too unreliable or too little studied to be useful in the management of an individual patient with cancer. The purpose of this paper is to provide the clinician with an understanding of the limitations of the present tumor markers that will lead to wiser use of the tests, and to provide standards to which future tumor markers should be measured.