NSGCTs With Teratoma Negatively Affects Patients in Good, Intermediate Prognosis Groups

Understanding the effects of teratoma in patients with metastatic testicular nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCTs) remains controversial.

Emanuel Bührer, MD, and colleagues utilized the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) Update Consortium database to compare the survival probabilities of patients with metastatic testicular GCTs with or without teratoma.

Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated at 5 years. A total of 6792 patients with metastatic testicular NSGCTs were included; 3224 (47%) patients had teratoma in their primary results, while 3568 (53%) did not.

In the IGCCCG good prognosis group, the 5-year PFS was 87.8% for patients with teratoma and 92.0% for patients without. The 5-year OS was 94.5% and 96.5%, respectively.

In the intermediate prognosis group, the 5-year PFS was 76.9% for patients with teratoma and 81.6% for patients without. The 5-year OS was 90.4% and 90.9%, respectively.

In the poor prognosis group, no difference was noted in PFS or OS rates in patients with and without teratoma. Patients with NSGCTs and teratoma had more residual masses and received postchemotherapy surgery more often than those without teratoma.

Patients with metastatic NSGCTs in the good or intermediate prognosis groups are negatively impacted by teratoma, while patients in the poor prognostic group are not affected.