Relapsed Intracranial Non-Germinomatous Germ Cell Tumours: is it
possible to achieve long-term survival?
Abstract
Non-germinomatous germ cell tumours of the central nervous system (CNS
NG-GCT) have no standardized treatment at relapse and prognosis is
dismal. Additionally, limited patient numbers preclude any clinical
trials in this setting. Here we report the case of an adolescent with
relapsed metastatic pineal yolk sac tumour treated with induction
chemotherapy, high dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell
transplant and radiotherapy who is alive and progression-free 5 years
after end of treatment. This experience illustrates the importance of
tumour marker surveillance and that multimodal treatment can salvage
children with relapsed CNS NG-GCT.