Thromboembolic events during chemotherapy for germ cell cancer: A cohort study and review of the literature

Purpose: To evaluate the risk of major thromboembolic complications in male germ fell cancer patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy and to re view the literature on this subject. Patients and Methods: One hundred seventy-nine germ cell cancer patients tr eated between January 1979 and May 1997 in our hospital were analyzed with respect to risk factors for developing thromboembolic events, such as basel ine tumor characteristics, prior tumor therapy, administration of cytostati c agents, and the use of antiemetic drugs. The patients were treated with a variety of combination chemotherapy regimens, primarily cisplatin-containi ng combination regimens. Results: Of the 179 patients, 15 patients (8.4%) were identified who develo ped a total of 18 major thromboembolic complications in the time period bet ween the start of chemotherapy and 6 weeks after administration of the last cytostatic drug in first-line treatment. Of these 18 events, three (16.7%) were arterial events, including two cerebral ischemic strokes, and 15 (83. 3%) were venous thromboembolic events, including III pulmonary embolisms. O ne (5.6%) of the 18 events was fatal. Liver metastases (odds ratio, 4.9; 95 % confidence interval, 1.1 to 20.8) and the administration of high doses of corticosteroids (greater than or equal to 80 mg dexamethasone per cycle; o dds ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 10.3) as antiemetic therapy were identified as risk factors for the development of major thromboemboli c complications. Conclusion: Germ cell cancer patients who receive chemotherapy, in particul ar those who have liver metastases or receive high doses of corticosteroids , are at considerable risk of developing thromboembolic complications. J Cl in Oncol 18:2169-2178. (C) 2000 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.