Lowered Cisplatin Dose and No Bleomycin in the Treatment of Pediatric Germ Cell Tumors: Results of the GCT-99 Protocol From the Brazilian Germ Cell Pediatric Oncology Cooperative Group.

PURPOSE: We describe the results of a risk-adapted, response-based therapeutic approach from the Brazilian GCT-99 study on germ cell tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From May 1999 to October 2009, 579 participants were enrolled in the Brazilian GCT-99 study. Treatment, defined as specific chemotherapy regimen and number of cycles, was allocated by means of risk-group assignment at diagnosis with consideration for stage and primary tumor site. Patients at low risk received no chemotherapy. Patients at intermediate risk (IR) with a good response (GR) received four cycles of platinum and etoposide (PE), for total doses of platinum 420 mg/m(2) and etoposide 2,040 mg/m(2). Patients at IR with a partial response (PR) received three cycles of PE plus three cycles of ifosfamide, vinblastine, and bleomycin. Patients at high risk (HR) with a GR received four cycles of PE and ifosfamide (PEI) at total doses of platinum 420 mg/m(2), etoposide 1,200 mg/m(2), and ifosfamide 30 g/m(2). Patients at HR with a PR received six cycles of PEI. RESULTS: The risk-group distribution was 213 LR, 138 IR, and 129 HR for 480 evaluable patients. Overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) rates at 10 years were, respectively, 90% and 88.6% in the IR-GR group (n = 126) and 74.1% and 74.1% in the IR-PR group (n = 12). Ten-year rates for the HR-GR group (n = 86) were an OS of 66.8% and an EFS of 62.5%. The HR-PR group (n = 43) had an OS of 74.8% and an EFS of 73.4%. In univariable and multivariable analysis, increased serum lactate dehydrogenase level and histology for a metastatic immature teratoma were prognostic of a worsened outcome. CONCLUSION: Reduction of therapy to two drugs did not compromise survival outcomes for patients in the IR-GR group, and escalation of therapy with PEI did not significantly improve OS and EFS in patients at HR.

Cisplatin and etoposide in childhood germ cell tumor: brazilian pediatric oncology society protocol GCT-91.

PURPOSE: In 1988, we formed a consortium of Brazilian institutions to develop uniform standards for the diagnostic assessment and multidisciplinary treatment of children and adolescents with germ cell tumors. We also implemented the first childhood Brazilian germ cell tumor protocol, GCT-91, evaluating two-agent chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide (PE). We now report on the clinical characteristics and survival of children and adolescents with germ cell tumors treated on this protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From May 1991 to April 2000, 115 patients (106 assessable patients) were enrolled onto the Brazilian protocol with a diagnosis of germ cell tumor. RESULTS: Patients were treated with surgery only (n = 35) and chemotherapy (n = 71). Important prognostic factors included stage (P = .025), surgical procedure at diagnosis according to resectability (P < .032), and abnormal lactate dehydrogenase value at diagnosis (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The improvement in survival by the introduction of a standard protocol is an important achievement. This is of particular importance for smaller institutions with previous limited experience in the treatment of childhood germ cell tumors. In addition, the results of a two-agent regimen with PE were favorable (5-year overall survival rate is 83.3% for patients in the high-risk group [n = 36] who received PE v 58.8% for patients in the high-risk patients group who received PE plus ifosfamide, vinblastine, and bleomycin [n = 17; P = .017]). Thus for selected patients, complex three-agent regimens may not be necessary to achieve long-term survival, even for some patients with advanced disease.

Totally implantable catheter embolism: two related cases / Embolia de cateter totalmente implantável: relato de dois casos

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Long-term totally implantable catheters (e.g. Port-a-Cath®) are frequently used for long-term venous access in children with cancer. The use of this type of catheter is associated with complications such as infection, extrusion, extravasation and thrombosis. Embolism of catheter fragments is a rare complication, but has potential for morbidity. The aim here was to report on two cases in which embolism of fragments of a long-term totally implantable catheter occurred. DESIGN AND SETTING: Case series study at Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual, São Paulo. METHODS: Retrospective review of catheter embolism in oncological pediatric patients with long-term totally implantable catheters. RESULTS: The first patient was a 3-year-old girl diagnosed with stage IV Wilms' tumor. Treatment was started with the introduction of a totally implantable catheter through the subclavian vein. At the time of removal, it was realized that the catheter had fractured inside the heart. An endovascular procedure was necessary to remove the fragment. The second case was a boy diagnosed with stage II Wilms' tumor at the age of two years. At the time of removal, it was noticed that the catheter had disconnected from the reservoir and an endovascular procedure was also necessary to remove the embolized catheter. CONCLUSION: Embolism of fragments of totally implantable catheters is a rare complication that needs to be recognized even in asymptomatic patients.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Os cateteres de longa permanência totalmente implantáveis (por exemplo, Port-a-Cath®) são muito utilizados para acesso venoso de longa duração em crianças com câncer. O uso deste tipo de cateter está associado a algumas complicações como infecção, extrusão, extravasamento e trombose. A embolia de fragmento de cateter é complicação rara, mas com potencial morbidade. O objetivo do estudo foi relatar dois casos em que houve embolia de fragmento de cateter de longa permanência. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Série de casos do Hospital do Servidor Público estadual, São Paulo. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo das embolias de cateter de longa permanência em crianças. RESULTADOS: No primeiro caso, descreve-se uma menina com diagnóstico de tumor de Wilms estádio IV aos três anos de idade. Iniciou tratamento com implante de cateter de longa permanência em veia subclávia. Três anos após diagnóstico, foi programada a retirada do cateter por término de tratamento. No momento da retirada, houve fratura intracardíaca do cateter. Houve necessidade de retirada do fragmento intracardíaco com hemodinâmica. O segundo caso tratava-se de um menino com diagnóstico de tumor de Wilms estádio II aos dois anos de idade. Teve o cateter implantado no início do tratamento. No momento da retirada por fim de tratamento, o cateter já havia desconectado e embolizado. O fragmento intracardíaco foi retirado também por procedimento de hemodinâmica. CONCLUSÃO: A embolia de fragmentos de cateter em cateteres de longa permanência é uma complicação rara, mas que necessita ser reconhecida, mesmo em pacientes assintomáticos.

Totally implantable catheter embolism: two related cases.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Long-term totally implantable catheters (e.g. Port-a-Cath) are frequently used for long-term venous access in children with cancer. The use of this type of catheter is associated with complications such as infection, extrusion, extravasation and thrombosis. Embolism of catheter fragments is a rare complication, but has potential for morbidity. The aim here was to report on two cases in which embolism of fragments of a long-term totally implantable catheter occurred. DESIGN AND SETTING: Case series study at Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual, São Paulo. METHODS: Retrospective review of catheter embolism in oncological pediatric patients with long-term totally implantable catheters. RESULTS: The first patient was a 3-year-old girl diagnosed with stage IV Wilms' tumor. Treatment was started with the introduction of a totally implantable catheter through the subclavian vein. At the time of removal, it was realized that the catheter had fractured inside the heart. An endovascular procedure was necessary to remove the fragment. The second case was a boy diagnosed with stage II Wilms' tumor at the age of two years. At the time of removal, it was noticed that the catheter had disconnected from the reservoir and an endovascular procedure was also necessary to remove the embolized catheter. CONCLUSION: Embolism of fragments of totally implantable catheters is a rare complication that needs to be recognized even in asymptomatic patients.