Solid tumors
Primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumor
Primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ-cell tumor is a germ-cell cancer that begins in the chest between the lungs. It is distinct from a lymphoma and from a testicular tumor that has spread to the chest.
Other names and abbreviations
PMNSGCT · PMGCT · mediastinal nonseminoma · primary mediastinal germ cell tumor · Primary mediastinal nonseminoma · mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumour
Where transplant fits
High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue may be used in selected patients, especially at relapse; some first-line approaches are also studied or considered in expert centers. It uses the patient’s cells. Evidence from all germ-cell tumors should not be assumed to apply equally to this subtype.
Treatment depends on the exact diagnosis, disease stage, prior treatment and the person’s health. These categories are not estimates of donor demand.
Treatment at a glance
- Who it affects
- This tumor mainly affects adolescent and young adult males.
- Other treatment options
- Treatment usually includes cisplatin-based chemotherapy and surgery for suitable residual disease. Relapse needs specialist assessment because the mediastinal nonseminomatous site carries different risks from many testicular germ-cell tumors.
- Cells used for transplantation
- The patient’s own collected blood-forming cells for autologous stem cell rescue, when that procedure is appropriate.
Questions to bring to your care team
What is the exact diagnosis or subtype? What is the goal of each treatment option? If transplant is being considered, why does it fit this situation, which cells would be used and what are the alternatives?
Sources and further reading
- Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumors Treatment (PDQ), Health Professional Version
NCI · Accessed 2026-09-05 - Indications for haematopoietic cell transplantation and CAR-T: 2025 EBMT practice recommendations
EBMT / Bone Marrow Transplantation · Accessed 2026-09-05 - Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Transplants for Cancer
NCI · Accessed 2026-09-05
Understanding can become action.
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