The outcomes of intracranial germ cell tumor patients with choriocarcinoma component and/or b-hcg higher than 500iu/l under radiotherapy-based treatments

Abstract BACKGROUND In the previous studies, intracranial germ cell tumor (iGCTs) patients with pure choriocarcinoma or mixed germ cell tumors containing choriocarcinoma components showed similar dismal prognoses with median overall survival of 22 months and a one-year survival rate around 60%. However, those conclusions need update since radiotherapy, a milestone for this disease, was not applied to many patients in the published reports. Patients and METHODS Clinical data of iGCTs patients with histologically confirmed choriocarcinoma component and/or β-HCG > 500IU/L were collected from the archive of our institute and studied retrospectively. RESULTS Totally, 76 patients were eligible for the study. 11 patients took surgery as initial treatment, followed by chemoradiotherapy in terms of treatments. Sixty-one patients initiated their treatments with chemotherapy. Among them, twelve patients received second-look surgery due to residue disease. Subsequently, all received radiotherapy except for two early deaths. Four patients received radiotherapy initially, followed by chemotherapy. The median follow-up time was 63 months. The 5-year EFS and OS were 81.5% and 84.1%, respectively. Among patients who did not suffer from early death or progressed disease after induction chemotherapy (n = 68), multivariate analysis found chemotherapy cycles ( > 4 vs ≤ 4) (Hazard ratio [HR] for EFS 0.156, p = 0.021; HR for OS 0.110, p = 0.032), β-HCG level ( > 3000IU/L vs ≤ 3000IU/L) (HR for EFS 4.512, p = 0.052; HR for OS 6.604, p=0.028), and intertumoral hemorrhage (Yes vs No) (HR for EFS 23.177, p = 0.006; HR for OS 12.173, p = 0.081) were independent factors for survival. While radiation field (CSI vs non-CSI) was not proved to be a prognostic factor, either for EFS or OS. CONCLUSIONS iGCTs patients with choriocarcinoma component or β-HCG > 500IU/L showed improved survival with radiotherapy-based treatments. Patients with higher β-HCG levels and hemorrhage had a poorer prognosis. More chemotherapy cycles could bring additional survival benefits.