International Journal of Cancer and Oncology | 2015-05-13

Desperation surgery as a successful approach in chemorefractory testicular germ cell cancer: The relevance of a multidisciplinary approach.

Carlos Enrique Robles Barraza

Abstract

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are the paradigm of solid curable neoplasms and comprise about 95% of all testicular malignancies. Since the introduction of cisplatin, and the integration of chemotherapy with surgery and radiotherapy, GCTs have become the paradigm of solid curable neoplasms. In order to achieve these excellent results is critical the management in institutions that bear extensive experience and that can offer a multidisciplinary approach integrating all the available therapeutic tools. The following case illustrates the role of the so-called “desperate surgery” in rendering disease free a patient with a long history of advanced non-seminomatous GCT (NSGCT) that had been considered chemo-refractory and with no further treatment options. We presented one case of advanced NSGCT that had been considered chemo-refractory and with no further treatment options where the surgery was the treatment choice.