Responses and adverse effects of carboplatin-based chemotherapy for pediatric intracranial germ cell tumors.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy has been commonly used for the treatment of intracranial germ cell tumors (IC-GCTs). However, this treatment exhibits some adverse effects such as renal problems and hearing difficulty. Carboplatin-based chemotherapy was administered to pediatric patients with IC-GCTs from August 2004 at the Samsung Medical Center. In this study, we assessed the responses and adverse effects of carboplatin-based chemotherapy in pediatric IC-GCTs patients according to the risk group, and compared the results with those of the previous cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

METHODS:

We examined 35 patients (27 men and 8 women) diagnosed with IC-GCTs between August 2004 and April 2008 and received risk-adapted carboplatin-based chemotherapy at the Samsung Medical Center. Patients were divided into either low-risk (LR) or high-risk (HR) groups and a retrospective analysis was performed using information from the medical records.

RESULTS:

Although hematological complications were common, hearing difficulties or grade 3 or 4 creatinine level elevation were not observed in patients who underwent carboplatin-based chemotherapy. The frequency of febrile neutropenia did not differ between the risk groups. The overall survival was 100% and event-free survival (EFS) was 95.7%. The EFS rate was 100% in the LR group and 90% in the HR group, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

Despite their common occurrence in high-risk patients, no lethal hematological complications were associated with carboplatin-based treatment. The current carboplatin-based chemotherapy protocol is safe and effective for the treatment of pediatric patients with IC-GCTs.

• Authors: Suntae Ji, Hee Won Chueh, Ju Youn Kim, Su Jin Lim, Eun Joo Cho, Soo Hyun Lee, Keon Hee Yoo, Ki Woong Sung, Hong Hoe Koo
• Journal: Korean journal of pediatrics (Korean J Pediatr) Vol. 54 Issue 3 Pg. 128-32 (Mar 2011) ISSN: 2092-7258 [Electronic] Korea (South)
• PMID: 21738543 (Publication Type: Journal Article)