CHEMOTHERAPY FOR OVARIAN GERM-CELL TUMORS

59 patients were treated for newly diagnosed metastatic ovarian germ c ell tumours with POMB/ACE chemotherapy (which contains cisplatinum, vi ncristine, methotrexate, bleomycin, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide an d etoposide). The median follow-up was 7.7 years. The 3 year survival is 87.8% (95% confidence interval 76.9-93.9%) and no relapses occurred more than 3 years after treatment. 4 (7%) patients had primary drug r esistance to POMB/ACE and 4 (7%) have relapsed. One patient in complet e remission developed secondary acute myeloid leukaemia after receivin g a total of 1.3 g/m(2) etoposide. 6 of 12 (50%) patients referred at relapse were salvaged by POMB/ACE. 14 of 33 (42%) women (>18 years old ) have had successful pregnancies after fertility conserving surgery a nd chemotherapy with no congenital abnormalities reported. The POMB/AC E regimen is as efficacious as other published regimens for ovarian ge rm cell tumours (OGCT) and balances a low incidence of life threatenin g toxicity with a high success rate. C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd