Editing Germ cell tumor (section)

==Treatment==
Treatment typically involves a combination of surgery and chemotherapy, depending on the subtype and location of the tumor. Surgery is performed upfront for testicular and ovarian tumors, as biopsies are associated with peritoneal and scrotal [[metastasis|tumor seeding]].

Benign GCTs such as [[mature teratoma]]s (dermoid cysts) are cured by simple excision.<ref name=acs2012/>

Testicular germ cell tumors are treated by [[orchiectomy]], followed by surveillance, [[lymph node]] staging, and/or chemotherapy depending on the risk stratification defined by the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG).<ref name=pmid9053482>{{cite journal | author = International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group | title = International Germ Cell Consensus Classification: a prognostic factor-based staging system for metastatic germ cell cancers. International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group | journal = Journal of Clinical Oncology | volume = 15 | issue = 2 | pages = 594–603 | date = February 1997 | pmid = 9053482 | doi = 10.1200/jco.1997.15.2.594 }}</ref>

Treatment for ovarian germ cell tumors typically involves at least ovarian cystectomy. Removal of the [[ovaries]], [[fallopian tube]], [[uterus]], and retroperitoneal lymph nodes may be planned depending on patient age, reproductive status, and extent of disease.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Maoz A, Matsuo K, Ciccone MA, Matsuzaki S, Klar M, Roman LD, Sood AK, Gershenson DM | display-authors = 6 | title = Molecular Pathways and Targeted Therapies for Malignant Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors and Sex Cord-Stromal Tumors: A Contemporary Review | journal = Cancers | volume = 12 | issue = 6 | page = 1398 | date = May 2020 | pmid = 32485873 | pmc = 7353025 | doi = 10.3390/cancers12061398 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

Patients with advanced or high-risk GCT may need to be treated with combination [[chemotherapy]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Maoz A, Matsuo K, Ciccone MA, Matsuzaki S, Klar M, Roman LD, Sood AK, Gershenson DM | display-authors = 6 | title = Molecular Pathways and Targeted Therapies for Malignant Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors and Sex Cord-Stromal Tumors: A Contemporary Review | journal = Cancers | volume = 12 | issue = 6 | page = 1398 | date = May 2020 | pmid = 32485873 | pmc = 7353025 | doi = 10.3390/cancers12061398 | doi-access = free }}</ref> The [[chemotherapy regimen]] most commonly used in GCTs is called PEB (or BEP), and consists of [[bleomycin]], [[etoposide]], and a [[platinum-based antineoplastic]] ([[cisplatin]]).<ref name=acs2012>{{cite web | url = http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/OvarianCancer/DetailedGuide/ovarian-cancer-treating-germ-cell-tumors | title = Treatment for germ cell tumors of the ovary | work = American Cancer Society | date = 11 January 2012 | access-date = 23 July 2012 | archive-date = 20 December 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161220020427/http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/OvarianCancer/DetailedGuide/ovarian-cancer-treating-germ-cell-tumors | url-status = dead }}</ref> Targeted treatments, such as immunotherapy, hormonal therapy and kinase inhibitors, are being evaluated for tumors that do not respond to chemotherapy.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Maoz A, Matsuo K, Ciccone MA, Matsuzaki S, Klar M, Roman LD, Sood AK, Gershenson DM | display-authors = 6 | title = Molecular Pathways and Targeted Therapies for Malignant Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors and Sex Cord-Stromal Tumors: A Contemporary Review | journal = Cancers | volume = 12 | issue = 6 | page = 1398 | date = May 2020 | pmid = 32485873 | pmc = 7353025 | doi = 10.3390/cancers12061398 | doi-access = free }}</ref>