Pooling over 5,000 patients, the IGCCCG classification sorted metastatic testicular cancer into good, intermediate and poor prognosis groups using tumour markers, primary site and non-lung metastases, and still decides how many cycles of chemotherapy a man receives.
Analysis of 5,202 patients with metastatic non-seminomatous and 660 with seminomatous germ cell tumours treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy, identifying tumour marker levels (AFP, hCG, LDH), mediastinal primary site and non-pulmonary visceral metastases as independent prognostic factors and defining good (56 percent, 92 percent five-year survival), intermediate (28 percent, 80 percent) and poor (16 percent, 48 percent) prognosis groups for non-seminoma.
Three cycles of BEP for good risk and four for intermediate and poor risk follow directly from this classification, which was updated in 2021 with modern survival figures.
Shares Non-seminomatous germ cell tumour, Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Shares Seminoma, Journal of Clinical Oncology.