E-ISSN: 1019-5157
ISSN: 2651-5024
Case Report
Refractory Pituitary Germinoma: Long-Term Remission After High-Dose Chemotherapy with Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ABSTRACT AIM: To report a case of refractory pituitary germinoma achieving long-term remission with high-dose chemoth
Rıdvan Gönül✉ ,
Kamran Hamidov ,
Gülşah Akyol ,
Mevlude Inanc
Medical Oncology, Erciyes University; Radiology, Erciyes University; Hematology, Erciyes University
Accepted: 01/10/2026
Article in Press
Corresponding Author:
Rıdvan Gönül (ridvangonull@gmail.com)
Abstract
AIM: To report a case of refractory pituitary germinoma achieving long-term remission with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HDC-AHSCT), and to highlight HDC-AHSCT as a potential salvage strategy in this setting.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 31-year-old woman initially operated for presumed pituitary adenoma was subsequently diagnosed with germinoma after early relapse. Following disease progression despite local radiotherapy and standard-dose carboplatin-etoposide chemotherapy, three sequential cycles of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HDC-AHSCT) were administered.
RESULTS: Complete remission was achieved following HDC-AHSCT. The patient remained disease-free for 68 months without any further treatment.
CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates that dose-intensified, melphalan-free HDC-AHSCT can achieve durable remission in chemorefractory pituitary germinoma. Given the absence of established salvage protocols for this condition, HDC-AHSCT may represent a potential therapeutic option that could be evaluated in carefully selected refractory cases, although further prospective data are needed to confirm its efficacy.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 31-year-old woman initially operated for presumed pituitary adenoma was subsequently diagnosed with germinoma after early relapse. Following disease progression despite local radiotherapy and standard-dose carboplatin-etoposide chemotherapy, three sequential cycles of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HDC-AHSCT) were administered.
RESULTS: Complete remission was achieved following HDC-AHSCT. The patient remained disease-free for 68 months without any further treatment.
CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates that dose-intensified, melphalan-free HDC-AHSCT can achieve durable remission in chemorefractory pituitary germinoma. Given the absence of established salvage protocols for this condition, HDC-AHSCT may represent a potential therapeutic option that could be evaluated in carefully selected refractory cases, although further prospective data are needed to confirm its efficacy.
Keywords
Germinoma
Pituitary Neoplasms
HDC-AHSCT