Vinblastine-Bleomycin in Comparison with Vinblastine-Bleomycin-Cisplatin in Disseminated Testicular Cancer

SummarySamuel’s protocol with vinblastine and bleomycin represented a milestone in combination chemotherapy for disseminated testicular cancer. Long-term follow-up of a group of 20 patients with mostly far advanced and pretreated disease revealed that 7 of the 11 males, who achieved complete remission, are still alive with no evidence of disease 2 years after ceasing maintenance treatment with vinblastine. No serious side effects are encountered in the long run apart from azoospermia. All have resumed daily work. These figures are almost identical to those found in the literature. A better survival rate seems to be achieved with cisplatin, vinblastine and bleomycin (PVB, Einhorn). Of 27 patients 15 were alive and free of disease during a 10–32 months follow-up.