Regression pattern of beta human chorionic gonadotrophin in blood after chemotherapy for gestational trophoblastic...

Although beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-HCG) is a clinically-useful tumour marker in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, there is limited information on how serum beta HCG regresses in molar pregnancy and choriocarcinoma during chemotherapy. The study included 41 patients who had been treated by single- and multidrug regimens, and decay curves for regression of beta HCG in the circulation in these patients were fitted to the data. Thirty-three patients achieved a biochemical remission ('cured') by first-line chemotherapy; this gave an overall efficacy rate of 80%. The beta HCG decay curves convey useful information of the chemosensitivity of the tumour, and may assist in determining the time required for treatment and earlier change in treatment for the chemoresistant tumour.