To compare standard therapy with bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) to experimental therapy with etoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (VIP) as primary treatment of men with advanced, disseminated germ cell tumors.

A total of 304 men with advanced disseminated germ cell tumors were randomly allocated to receive four courses of BEP or VIP. Two hundred ninety-nine patients were assessable for toxicity and 286 were assessable for response. Complete response rates, favorable response (complete remission, surgical free of disease, continuous partial remission for 2+ years), time to treatment failure, and overall survival were assessed.

Overall complete remission rate (VIP, 37%; BEP, 31%), favorable response rate (VIP, 63%; BEP, 60%), failure-free at 2 years (VIP, 64%; BEP, 60%), and 2-year overall survival (VIP, 74%; BEP, 71%) were not significantly different between the two treatments. Grade 3 or worse toxicity, particularly hematologic and genitourinary toxicity, was significantly more common in patients who received VIP.

BEP and VIP produce comparable favorable response rate and survival in patients with poor-risk germ cell tumors. The substitution of ifosfamide for bleomycin, however, was associated with significantly greater toxicity. Four courses of BEP remain the standard treatment for advanced disseminated germ cell tumors.