To our knowledge this is the first study to derive estimated pooled OS and DSS of mGCT based on a large dataset. SRs were not exceptional phenomena. In a long run the disease could impact in a significant way on the life expectancy of affected subjects.

Adriamycin (ADM) is an effective antineoplastic drug. However, the amount of ADM that can be administered must be limited because of the risk of developing a severe dose-dependent myocardiopathy. Prenylamine (PNL), a calcium antagonistic drug, provided partial protection against ADM-induced cardiotoxicity in mice and in the rabbit. Thus, it was considered important to evaluate the cardioprotective potential of PNL in patients given ordinary doses of ADM. Twenty-six patients were selected and randomized in two groups, and a double-blind trial was begun. Group A (n = 13): patients received ADM, i.v. at standard oncological doses up to 550 mg/m2, plus placebo, orally. Group B (n = 13): ADM was administered as in Group A, but PNL 200 mg/day was given instead of placebo. Standard ECG and chest radiographs were performed at the beginning of treatment and every two months. Mode-M echocardiograms and 24-hour ambulatory ECGs were obtained previously to the beginning of the ADM treatment and two months after the administration of the last dose of the drug. In Group A, three patients died from oncological causes, total ADM dose was 359 +/- 100 mg/m2, and the mean age was 59.7 years. One patient in this group developed a congestive myocardiopathy while another patient developed a severe supraventricular arrhythmia. In Group B, four patients died from oncological causes, total ADM dose was 367 +/- 132 mg/m2, and the mean age was 63.8 years. No myocardiopathy was found in this group. These findings suggest that simultaneous administration of PNL may mitigate ADM cardiotoxicity, but larger trials are needed to draw definite conclusions.

We have evaluated, in a controlled study, the modification of the toxicity of a single bolus dose of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by allopurinol. Patients first received a single dose of 5-FU and were monitored for toxicity. If a measurable nadir in WBC or platelet count occurred, then the same dose of 5-FU was repeated with concurrent allopurinol, given for four consecutive days at an initial dose of 300 mg twice daily, starting the day before the administration of 5-FU. With this schedule, each evaluable patient received courses of 5-FU with and without allopurinol that could be compared for toxicity. Twenty patients received initial 5-FU doses of either 1,200 mg/m2 or 1,500 mg/m2 and later had the same dose repeated with allopurinol. Nineteen of these patients had a higher WBC count with allopurinol than without it. In several patients who received a further course of 5-FU with 900-mg/d allopurinol, the WBC count was yet higher than with 600-mg/d allopurinol. The myelosuppression produced by 5-FU was characterized by a decrease in granulocyte levels that was much greater than the decrease in lymphocyte levels, and the result of allopurinol treatment was to attenuate this effort on granulocytes. In a second part of the trial, the goal was to establish the maximum tolerated dose of 5-FU given with concurrent allopurinol. In this part of the study, all patients entered were given 5-FU, usually 1,200 mg/m2, with allopurinol, usually 600 mg/d for four days. Escalations of one or the other drugs were made on subsequent treatments. The data for 22 patients showed that 1,800 mg/m2 of 5-FU was well tolerated if given with 600 to 1,200 mg of allopurinol per day, and that the WBC count nadirs were no more severe than those of 1,200-mg/m2 5-FU without allopurinol. Neurotoxicity became limiting in some patients treated at these higher doses. We conclude that allopurinol given in the proper dose and schedule can diminish the granulocytopenia produced by bolus doses of 5-FU, thereby allowing a 50% increase in the maximal tolerated dose of 5-FU.

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