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Low-Risk Persistent Gestational Trophoblastic Disease: Outcome After Initial Treatment With Low-Dose Methotrexate and Folinic Acid From 1992 to 2000

From the Department of Medical Oncology, Trophoblastic Tumour Screening and Treatment Center, Charing Cross Hospital, London, and Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middlesex, United Kingdom.

Address reprint requests to E.S. Newlands, PhD, FRCP, Department of Medical Oncology, Trophoblastic Tumour Screening and Treatment Centre, Charing Cross Hospital, London W6 8RF, United Kingdom; email: e.newlands{at}ic.ac.uk

PURPOSE: We have simplified the treatment of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) in order to reduce the number of patients exposed to potentially carcinogenic chemotherapy. Patients who score 0 to 8 on the Charing Cross scoring system are classified as low-risk and receive methotrexate (MTX) and folinic acid (FA), whereas those who score higher than 8 are classified as high-risk and receive the etoposide, methotrexate, and dactinomycin (EMA)/cyclophosphamide and vincristine (CO) regimen.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1992 and 2000, 485 women with GTD were commenced on MTX/FA at Charing Cross Hospital, London, United Kingdom. If patients developed MTX resistance or toxicity, treatment was altered according to the level of beta human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). If serum hCG was 100 IU/L, patients received dactinomycin; if hCG was greater than 100 IU/L, patients received EMA/CO.

RESULTS: The median duration of follow-up was 4.7 years. Overall survival was 100% and the relapse rate was 3.3% (16 of 485 patients). hCG values normalized in 324 (66.8%) of 485 patients with MTX alone, whereas 161 (33.2%) of 485 patients required a change in treatment, 11 because of MTX toxicity and 150 because of MTX resistance. Sixty-seven patients changed to dactinomycin, of whom 58 achieved normal hCG values, and nine required third-line chemotherapy with EMA/CO. hCG values normalized in 93 (98.9%) of 94 patients who changed directly to EMA/CO from MTX.

CONCLUSION: Single-agent dactinomycin has activity in patients with low-risk GTD who develop MTX resistance and whose hCG is low. Simplifying the stratification of GTD into two classes (low- and high-risk) does not compromise overall outcome and may reduce the risk of second tumors.

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Related Correspondence

• Problems With Nomenclature and Pharmacodynamics in Trophoblastic Disease
  Ernest I. Kohorn
  JCO 2004 22: 203-204 [Full Text]

Related Reply

• In Reply:
  Edward S. Newlands
  JCO 2004 22: 204 [Full Text]

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