Cisplatin testicular germ cell cancer

Cisplatin, combined with bleomycin and vinblastine or etoposide, produces cures in most patients with metastatic testicular cancer or germ cell cancer of the ovary. Cisplatin also shows some activity against carcinomas of the head and neck, bladder, cervix, prostate, and lung. 

Fung MK, Cheung HW, Ling MT et al. Role of MEK/ERK pathway in the MAD2-mediated cisplatin sensitivity in testicular germ cell tumour cells. Br J Cancer 2006 95 475 84. 

Cytotoxic chemotherapy is the cornerstone of therapy for metastatic testicular cancer. This type of cancer (known as a type of germ cell tumour as it is thought to be derived from cells in the germ cell lineage that are blocked in maturation) has been found to be extremely responsive to chemotherapeutic agents, in particular cisplatin and etoposide. There is no role for radiotherapy at this stage due to the advanced nature of the disease. 

Bleomycin is highly effective against germ cell tumors of the testis and ovary. In testicular cancer it is curative when used with cisplatin and vinblastine or cisplatin and etoposide. It is used as a component of the standard ABVD regimen for Hodgkin s disease. Bleomycin also is given intrapleurally (60 U)for malignant pleural effusions. 

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