Actinomycin D as the primary agent for gestational trophoblastic disease

Thirty-one patients with nonmetastatic trophoblastic disease (NMTD) and 39 patients with metastatic trophoblastic disease (MTD) of gestational origin were treated primarily with actinomycin D. Complete and sustained remission was achieved with actinomycin D alone in 94% of patients with NMTD and 67% with MTD. In the nonmetastatic group, 93% of patients without choriocarcinoma (non-CCA) achieved remission with actinomycin D, as compared to 100% (only 3 patients) with CCA. in the metastatic group, 76% of patients without CCA achieved remission with actinomycin D, as compared to 56% where CCA was present. Fourteen of the 15 patients who failed to respond completely to actinomycin D alone subsequently responded to methotrexate (10 patients), triple therapy (3 patients), methotrexate plus triple therapy (1 patient), and methotrexate plus vinblastine (1 patient). One patient died with widespread metastases despite intensive chemotherapy with actinomycin D and triple therapy. No serious toxic side effects were encountered even in treated patients with pre-existing laboratory evidence of impaired hepatic function.