Hepatic metastasis in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: patient characteristics, prognostic factors, and outcomes

To identify patient characteristics, determine prognostic factors, and evaluate outcomes for women with hepatic metastases in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN).

Seventeen GTN patients with hepatic metastases were treated at our institution between 1962 and 2010. Demographic data, disease characteristics, and survival were all analyzed retrospectively. Fisher's exact test was used to determine significance.

The median age was 29 years (range, 16-48), and the antecedent pregnancy was nonmolar in 12 patients (75%) and a hydatidiform mole in 4 patients (25%). Fifteen patients (88%) had metastatic disease outside the liver, including lung (13), brain (5), and other intraabdominal organs (8). Median FIGO score was 14 (range, 12-19). Chemotherapy consisted of single-agent methotrexate or actinomycin D in 2 patients; methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide (MAC) in 4 patients; and etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide and vincristine (EMACO) in 11 patients. Complete response rate to chemotherapy was 82% for EMA-CO versus 17% for other types of chemotherapy (p = 0.035). Overall survival was 41% (7/17).

Survival of patients with GTN and hepatic metastases increased from 17% (1/6) to 55% (6/11) after 1986 when EMA-CO chemotherapy was introduced. Survival was significantly decreased for patients with concomitant intraabdominal or brain metastases (11% vs. 75%, p = 0.015).