A Phase 3 interventional study of paclitaxel and ifosfamide in Germ Cell Tumor, Teratoma and Choriocarcinoma, sponsored by Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. Active, not recruiting at 125 sites in 12 countries. Open to male participants aged 14 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-16.
Sponsored by Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment
This randomized phase III trial studies how well standard-dose combination chemotherapy works compared to high-dose combination chemotherapy and stem cell transplant in treating patients with germ cell tumors that have returned after a period of improvement or did not respond to treatment. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel, ifosfamide, cisplatin, carboplatin, and etoposide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving chemotherapy before a stem cell transplant stops the growth of cancer cells by stopping them from dividing or killing them. Giving colony-stimulating factors, such as filgrastim or pegfilgrastim, and certain chemotherapy drugs, helps stem cells move from the bone marrow to the blood so they can be collected and stored. Chemotherapy is then given to prepare the bone marrow for the stem cell transplant. The stem cells are then returned to the patient to replace the blood-forming cells that were destroyed by the chemotherapy. It is not yet known whether high-dose combination chemotherapy and stem cell transplant are more effective than standard-dose combination chemotherapy in treating patients with refractory or relapsed germ cell tumors.
The study is an international collaboration with European sites. Collaborators on the study include the National Cancer Institute, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Movember Foundation. Randomization will be stratified by region (North America and Europe) and by modified IPFSG (International Prognostic Factor Study Group) risk classification (low, intermediate and high). The primary and secondary objectives are described below.
Primary Objective:
1. To compare the overall survival in patients treated with conventional-dose chemotherapy using the TIP regimen with high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) plus autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) using the TI-CE regimen as initial salvage treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory germ cell tumors (GCT)
Secondary Objectives:
Treatment is to continue until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or completion of all protocol treatment.
166 studies on the registry are indexed under Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; 48 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 420 is above the median of 36 across 124 interventional studies indexed under Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal.
Browse Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal studies →Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology is the lead sponsor of 509 studies on the registry; 28 are open to participants now.
Of its 6 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 6 (100%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Documentation of Disease
Evidence of Disease
Must have evidence of progressive or recurrent GCT (measurable or non-measurable) following one line of cisplatin-based chemotherapy, defined as meeting at least one of the following criteria:
Prior Treatment
Must have received 3-6 cycles of cisplatin-based chemotherapy as part of (initial) chemotherapy.
No more than one prior line of chemotherapy for GCT (other than the 1 cycle of salvage chemotherapy as defined in the protocol)
Required Initial Laboratory Values:
Negative Serology (antibody test) for the following infectious diseases:
No large (≥ 2 cm) hemorrhagic or symptomatic brain metastases until local treatment has been administered (radiation therapy or surgery). Treatment may begin ≥ 7 days after completion of local treatment. Patients with small (\< 2 cm) and asymptomatic brain metastases are allowed and may be treated with radiation therapy and/or surgery concurrently with Arm A or cycles 1 and 2 of Arm B if deemed medically indicated.
Radiation therapy should not be given concurrently with high-dose carboplatin or etoposide.
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.
Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.
Neoadjuvant treatment is given before the main treatment (usually surgery), often to shrink a tumour. Adjuvant treatment is given after it, to lower the chance of the cancer coming back.
A line of therapy is one course of treatment, which may combine several drugs. First-line is the first course given; second-line follows when that stops working or is not tolerated.
“Two prior lines” means two courses that count separately under the study’s rules — not simply two drugs. Ask the study team if you are unsure how yours are counted.
Cancer deposits in the brain from a cancer that started elsewhere in the body (CNS metastases include the spinal cord).
Studies differ: some leave out any brain metastases, some accept ones treated and stable for some weeks. Check what this study allows.
A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.
Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.
The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.
It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.
Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.
How quickly the kidneys clear creatinine, a waste product, from the blood. A study may estimate it from a blood test with age, weight and sex (often by the Cockcroft–Gault formula), or measure it using blood and urine collected over a set time. Given in mL/min; higher is better.
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.
Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.
Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. An HCV antibody test can stay positive after an infection has cleared (and is occasionally positive without one); an HCV RNA test shows whether the virus is there now.
After treatment, hepatitis C counts as cured when HCV RNA is still undetectable 12 weeks or more after the treatment ended. Studies often accept people cured this way.
Metastases
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Biopsy and archival tissue
A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.
Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Adjuvant and neoadjuvant
Neoadjuvant treatment is given before the main treatment (usually surgery), often to shrink a tumour. Adjuvant treatment is given after it, to lower the chance of the cancer coming back.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Line of therapy
A line of therapy is one course of treatment, which may combine several drugs. First-line is the first course given; second-line follows when that stops working or is not tolerated.
“Two prior lines” means two courses that count separately under the study’s rules — not simply two drugs. Ask the study team if you are unsure how yours are counted.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Brain metastases
Cancer deposits in the brain from a cancer that started elsewhere in the body (CNS metastases include the spinal cord).
Studies differ: some leave out any brain metastases, some accept ones treated and stable for some weeks. Check what this study allows.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ECOG performance status
A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.
Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)
The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.
It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Platelets
Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Creatinine clearance (CrCl)
How quickly the kidneys clear creatinine, a waste product, from the blood. A study may estimate it from a blood test with age, weight and sex (often by the Cockcroft–Gault formula), or measure it using blood and urine collected over a set time. Given in mL/min; higher is better.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Bilirubin
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ULN (upper limit of normal)
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ALT and AST (liver enzymes)
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hepatitis B tests
Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.
Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hepatitis C tests
Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. An HCV antibody test can stay positive after an infection has cleared (and is occasionally positive without one); an HCV RNA test shows whether the virus is there now.
After treatment, hepatitis C counts as cured when HCV RNA is still undetectable 12 weeks or more after the treatment ended. Studies often accept people cured this way.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients will receive treatment for 4 cycles administered every 21 days. Cycles 1-4 (1 cycle = 21 days) * paclitaxel 250 mg/m\^2 IV over 24 hours on Day 1 including premedication as defined in the protocol (eg, dexamethasone, diphenhydramine and H2 blocker) * ifosfamide 1500 mg/m\^2 IV daily on Days 2-5 with mesna protection as defined in the protocol * cisplatin 25 mg/m\^2 IV daily on Days 2-5 * pegylated G-CSF 6 mg subcutaneous on Day 6 or 7 or G-CSF as defined in the protocol on Days 6-18 Patients may commence with each Arm A cycle provided they meet the criteria as defined in the protocol.
Drug: paclitaxel · Drug: ifosfamide · Drug: cisplatin · Drug: pegylated G-CSF · Drug: G-CSF
Patients will receive treatment for a total of 5 cycles. Cycles 1-2 (1 cycle = 14 days) * paclitaxel 200 mg/m\^2 IV over 3 hours on Day 1 including premedication as defined in the protocol (eg, dexamethasone, diphenhydramine and H2 blocker) * ifosfamide 2000 mg/m\^2 IV daily on Days 1-3 with mesna protection as defined in the protocol * G-CSF 10 µg/kg subcutaneously on Days 3-15 (cycle 1) and Days 3-14 (cycle 2) or pegylated G-CSF 6 mg subcutaneous on Day 4 or 6 (cycle 1) and Day 4 or 5 (cycle 2) * leukapheresis every 14 days, if there is an inadequate number of CD34+ cells/kg collected in cycle 1 Cycles 3-5 (1 cycle = 21 days) * carboplatin daily on Days 1-3 * etoposide 400 mg/m\^2 daily on Days 1-3 * stem cell reinfusion on day 5 * pegylated G-CSF 6 mg subcutaneously or G-CSF at approximately 5 µg/kg daily on Days 5-15 Patients may commence with each Arm B cycle provided they meet the criteria as defined in the protocol.
Drug: paclitaxel · Drug: ifosfamide · Drug: pegylated G-CSF · Drug: G-CSF · Drug: carboplatin · Drug: etoposide phosphate · Procedure: stem cell reinfusion
IV
Also known as: Taxol
IV
Also known as: Ifex®, IFOS
IV
Also known as: CDDP
IV
IV
IV
Also known as: Paraplatin®, CBDCA
IV
Also known as: VePesid®, Toposar®, VP16
surgical procedure
overall survival
Time frame: Up to 36 months post-treatment
progression free survival
Time frame: Up to 36 months post-treatment
proportion of patients achieving either a complete response (CR) or partial response
Time frame: Up to 3 months post-registration
treatment related mortality
Time frame: Up to 30 days post-treatment
number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0
Time frame: Up to 3 months post-registration
Validation of International Prognostic Factor Study Group stratification system (eg, primary site, prior response, progression free interval)
Time frame: Up to 3 years post-registration
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This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Studies of the drugs tested here: Cisplatin · Carboplatin · Etoposide phosphate
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