Management of high-risk gestational trophoblastic disease--the Memorial Hospital experience

Thirty-two patients with high-risk gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), defined as metastases to the brain or liver (regardless of hCG level or duration of disease) or prior unsuccessful chemotherapy are reviewed. In this classification, an antecedent term pregnancy is not considered to be an independent high-risk factor. Initial chemotherapy in 15 (46.8%) patients consisted of methotrexate, actinomycin D, and chlorambucil (MAC), actinomycin D alone in seven (21.8%), etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cytoxan on covin (EMACO) EMACO in three (9.4%), ITMA (hydroxyurea, vincristine, methotrexate, folinic acid, cyclophosphamide, actinomycin D, adriamycin, and melphalan) in three (9.4%). The remaining patients were treated with actinomycin D and 6-mercaptopurine (1), CHAMOCA (1), carboplatin and Taxol (1), and methotrexate (1). All patients with brain metastases were treated with cranial radiotherapy. Overall complete remission was achieved in 14 of 32 (43.7%) patients. Five of 9 (55.5%) patients whose disease followed a term pregnancy survived compared to nine of 23 (39.1%) patients whose disease followed other types of pregnancies. The data analyzed according to the clinical classification of 'high-risk' indicates that an overall survival rate of 70% was achieved. The Memorial Hospital classification therefore identifies patients who need primary chemotherapy more aggressive than MAC and similar to the WHO scoring system is a better predictor of survival than the clinical classification.