Chemotherapy-related vascular toxicity : studies in germ cell tumour patients

Testicular cancer is a highly curable disease that mainly affects men between 20 and 40 years of age. Nowadays, over 80% of patients become long-term survivors following treatment with chemotherapy that consists of a combination of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP-regimen). Unfortunately, vascular toxic effects of chemotherapy have been described in testicular cancer patients in both the short and the long term. These vascular complications may cause serious morbidity and sometimes mortality in survivors who are generally young. Moreover, vascular toxicity occurring during treatment may interfere with the continuation of a potentially curative treatment and thus reduce the chance of cure. It is largely unknown how and in which patients vascular toxicity will develop. However, this knowledge isneeded for the development of appropriate prevention strategies and for the selection of high risk patients who are most likely to benefit from this. ... Zie: Summary