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Chemotherapy-related acute respiratory distress syndrome in germ cell tumors: a literature review

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Abstract

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are one of the more curable solid cancers in men. Approximately 8500 men are diagnosed with GCTs in the USA. The majority of patients survive due to the availability of effective treatment. Fewer than 400 men are estimated to die from their disease. Among those, there is a subset of patients with metastatic GCTs receiving chemotherapy who rapidly develop progressive respiratory failure and die during the early phase of their treatment course. In this review, we searched the available literature for reported cases and retrospective series of chemotherapy-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome in GCTs. We aim to determine whether a different approach from current treatment guidelines could be considered to prevent this catastrophic chemotherapy-related event.

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Author’s contribution

MA is the main author of the review article. As a corresponding author, he has substantial contributions in designing this manuscript, searched for English-written literature, prepared the draft, revised it critically for its content, edited, and approved the final version. He agreed to be accountable for all aspects of this manuscript. NE searched for English-written literature and edited the final draft of the manuscript. She has substantial contributions in designing this manuscript. She revised it critically for its content and approved final version to be published. She agreed to be accountable for all aspects of this manuscript. MMH searched for English-written literature and edited the final draft of the manuscript. She has substantial contributions in designing this manuscript. She revised it critically for its content and approved final version to be published. She agreed to be accountable for all aspects of this manuscript. HB searched for English-written literature and edited the final draft of the manuscript. He has substantial contributions in designing this manuscript and also searched for English-written literature about the subject. He revised it critically for its content and approved final version to be published. He agreed to be accountable for all aspects of this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Mohamed Alsharedi.

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None to disclose (No form of any fund was received by all authors).

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Alsharedi, M., Elmsherghi, N., Haydock, M.M. et al. Chemotherapy-related acute respiratory distress syndrome in germ cell tumors: a literature review. Med Oncol 34, 56 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-017-0913-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-017-0913-6

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