Current Status of Stem Cell Transplant in Treatment of Testicular Germ Cell Tumors.

The advancements in the treatment of testicular cancer have led to the majority of patients even with distant metastases being cured of their malignancy. Despite this, around 20% of patients with metastatic disease will relapse after first-line therapy, and the majority of these patients will go on to need further salvage chemotherapy, either with conventional-dose chemotherapy or high-dose chemotherapy. High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell transplant is an effective salvage therapy and will still remarkably result in cures for the majority of patients with relapsed disease. While patients receiving it as even third-line salvage therapy may achieve cures, earlier administration likely results in greater efficacy.