Standard Treatment Options
Treatment Options Under Clinical Evaluation for Stages I through III
Current Clinical Trials

Most ovarian neoplasms in children and adolescents are of germ cell origin.[1] Ovarian germ cell tumors (GCT) are very rare in young children, but the incidence begins to increase in children aged approximately 8 or 9 years, and peaks at age 19 years. Childhood malignant ovarian GCT can be divided into dysgerminomas (seminomatous) and nonseminomatous malignant GCT (i.e., immature teratomas, yolk sac carcinomas, mixed GCT, and embryonal carcinomas). (For information on childhood mature and immature teratomas arising in the ovary, see the Nonsacrococcygeal Teratomas in Children ¹ section of this summary.) (Refer to the PDQ summary on Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor Treatment ² for more information.)

For stage I ovarian GCT and immature teratomas, cure can usually be achieved by unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, conserving the uterus and opposite ovary, and close follow-up observation.[2-6] Chemotherapy can be implemented if tumor markers do not normalize or if tumors recur.

While advanced-stage ovarian dysgerminomas similar to testicular seminomas are highly curable with surgery and radiation therapy, the effects on growth and fertility in these young patients [7,8] make chemotherapy a more attractive adjunct to surgery.[9,10] Complete tumor resection is the goal for advanced dysgerminomas; platinum-based chemotherapy can be given preoperatively to facilitate resection or postoperatively (after debulking surgery) to avoid mutilating surgical procedures.[6] This approach results in a high rate of cure and the maintenance of menstrual function and fertility in most patients with dysgerminomas.[9,11]

For ovarian malignant GCT other than dysgerminomas or immature teratoma, treatment generally involves surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy.[12,13] Platinum-based chemotherapy regimens such as cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin (PEB) or the carboplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin (JEB) have been used successfully in children,[2,4,14,15] and PEB is a common regimen in young women with ovarian GCT.[16,17] This approach results in a high rate of cure and the maintenance of menstrual function and fertility in most patients with nondysgerminomas.[13]

A multidisciplinary approach is essential for treatment of ovarian GCT. Various surgical subspecialties and the pediatric oncologist must be involved in clinical decisions. The reproductive surgical approach for pediatric GCT is often guided by the hope that function can be preserved. In a completed pediatric intergroup trial, pediatric patients with ovarian GCT (stages I-IV) had excellent survival with PEB and conservative surgery, rather than the strict guidelines proposed originally in the study.[18] The role of laparoscopy in children with ovarian GCT has not been well studied.

Surgery: The role for surgery at diagnosis is age- and site-dependent and must be individualized. Depending on the clinical setting, the appropriate surgical approach may range from no surgery, to biopsy, to primary resection. In some cases, an appropriate strategy is biopsy at diagnosis followed by subsequent surgery in selected patients who have residual masses following chemotherapy.

Stages I through IV

• Surgery and treatment with four to six courses of standard PEB. These patients have an overall survival outcome greater than 90% with this regimen, suggesting that a reduction in therapy could be considered.[14,15,18]



• Surgery and treatment with six courses of JEB.[4,18]

The following are examples of national and/or institutional clinical trials that are currently being conducted. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

• The Children’s Oncology Group trial, AGCT0132 ³, is currently studying the effect of surgery and observation (stage I) and decreased chemotherapy for stages II-III (three courses of PEB over 3 days) with the goal of decreasing the duration and cumulative doses of chemotherapy (25% dose reduction) and lessening the cost of treatment. Strict guidelines for the evaluation and follow-up of the "observation" patients are mandated to ensure that disease recurrence or regrowth is detected early.



• A United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Group trial is also studying the reduction of total JEB cycles.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with childhood malignant ovarian germ cell tumor ⁴. The list of clinical trials can be further narrowed by location, drug, intervention, and other criteria.

General information about clinical trials is also available from the NCI Web site ⁵.

References

1. Ries LA, Smith MA, Gurney JG, et al., eds.: Cancer incidence and survival among children and adolescents: United States SEER Program 1975-1995. Bethesda, Md: National Cancer Institute, SEER Program, 1999. NIH Pub.No. 99-4649. Also available online. ⁶ Last accessed April 19, 2007. 
   
   
2. Baranzelli MC, Bouffet E, Quintana E, et al.: Non-seminomatous ovarian germ cell tumours in children. Eur J Cancer 36 (3): 376-83, 2000.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
3. Dark GG, Bower M, Newlands ES, et al.: Surveillance policy for stage I ovarian germ cell tumors. J Clin Oncol 15 (2): 620-4, 1997.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
4. Mann JR, Raafat F, Robinson K, et al.: The United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group's second germ cell tumor study: carboplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin are effective treatment for children with malignant extracranial germ cell tumors, with acceptable toxicity. J Clin Oncol 18 (22): 3809-18, 2000.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
5. Marina NM, Cushing B, Giller R, et al.: Complete surgical excision is effective treatment for children with immature teratomas with or without malignant elements: A Pediatric Oncology Group/Children's Cancer Group Intergroup Study. J Clin Oncol 17 (7): 2137-43, 1999.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
6. Gershenson DM: Chemotherapy of ovarian germ cell tumors and sex cord stromal tumors. Semin Surg Oncol 10 (4): 290-8, 1994 Jul-Aug.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
7. Teinturier C, Gelez J, Flamant F, et al.: Pure dysgerminoma of the ovary in childhood: treatment results and sequelae. Med Pediatr Oncol 23 (1): 1-7, 1994.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
8. Mitchell MF, Gershenson DM, Soeters RP, et al.: The long-term effects of radiation therapy on patients with ovarian dysgerminoma. Cancer 67 (4): 1084-90, 1991.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
9. Brewer M, Gershenson DM, Herzog CE, et al.: Outcome and reproductive function after chemotherapy for ovarian dysgerminoma. J Clin Oncol 17 (9): 2670-75, 1999.  [PUBMED Abstract]
   
   
10. Williams SD, Blessing JA, Hatch KD, et al.: Chemotherapy of advanced dysgerminoma: trials of the Gynecologic Oncology Group. J Clin Oncol 9 (11): 1950-5, 1991.  [PUBMED Abstract]
    
    
11. Gershenson DM: Menstrual and reproductive function after treatment with combination chemotherapy for malignant ovarian germ cell tumors. J Clin Oncol 6 (2): 270-5, 1988.  [PUBMED Abstract]
    
    
12. Gershenson DM, Morris M, Cangir A, et al.: Treatment of malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary with bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin. J Clin Oncol 8 (4): 715-20, 1990.  [PUBMED Abstract]
    
    
13. Mitchell PL, Al-Nasiri N, A'Hern R, et al.: Treatment of nondysgerminomatous ovarian germ cell tumors: an analysis of 69 cases. Cancer 85 (10): 2232-44, 1999.  [PUBMED Abstract]
    
    
14. Cushing B, Giller R, Cullen JW, et al.: Randomized comparison of combination chemotherapy with etoposide, bleomycin, and either high-dose or standard-dose cisplatin in children and adolescents with high-risk malignant germ cell tumors: a pediatric intergroup study--Pediatric Oncology Group 9049 and Children's Cancer Group 8882. J Clin Oncol 22 (13): 2691-700, 2004.  [PUBMED Abstract]
    
    
15. Rogers PC, Olson TA, Cullen JW, et al.: Treatment of children and adolescents with stage II testicular and stages I and II ovarian malignant germ cell tumors: A Pediatric Intergroup Study--Pediatric Oncology Group 9048 and Children's Cancer Group 8891. J Clin Oncol 22 (17): 3563-9, 2004.  [PUBMED Abstract]
    
    
16. Williams SD: Ovarian germ cell tumors: an update. Semin Oncol 25 (3): 407-13, 1998.  [PUBMED Abstract]
    
    
17. Williams S, Blessing JA, Liao SY, et al.: Adjuvant therapy of ovarian germ cell tumors with cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin: a trial of the Gynecologic Oncology Group. J Clin Oncol 12 (4): 701-6, 1994.  [PUBMED Abstract]
    
    
18. Billmire D, Vinocur C, Rescorla F, et al.: Outcome and staging evaluation in malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary in children and adolescents: an intergroup study. J Pediatr Surg 39 (3): 424-9; discussion 424-9, 2004.  [PUBMED Abstract]