Intracerebral choriocarcinoma

Radiation Therapy for Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia: Forward-Looking Lessons Learnt

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) includes several rare malignant diseases occurring after pregnancy: invasive moles, choriocarcinoma, placental site trophoblastic tumours, and epithelioid trophoblastic tumours. Multidisciplinary protocols including multi-agent chemotherapy, surgery, and occasionally radiotherapy achieve good outcomes for some high-risk metastatic patients. In this narrative review of the published studies on the topic, we have tried to identify the role of radiotherapy. The available studies are mainly small, old, and retrospective, with incomplete data regarding radiotherapy protocols delivering low doses (which can make this disease appear radioresistant in some cases despite high response rates with palliative doses) to wide fields (whole-brain, whole-liver, etc.), which can increase toxicity. Studies considering modern techniques are needed to overcome these limitations and determine the full potential of radiotherapy beyond its antihemorrhagic and palliative roles.

Gestational trophoblastic disease: an update

Gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTD) encompass a spectrum of rare pre-malignant and malignant entities originating from trophoblastic tissue. This updated review will highlight important radiological features, pathology and classification, and provide insight into the clinical management of these uncommon disorders. There is a wide geographic variation with the incidence of hydatidiform mole varying between 0.57 and 2 per 1000 pregnancies. The use of ultrasound (US) in the management of early pregnancy symptoms and complications has positively impacted the earlier detection of these diseases and resulted in diminished morbidity. Additional imaging modalities are reserved for problem solving or assessment of pulmonary manifestations of molar pregnancy. Having an awareness of their pleomorphic sonographic presentation and additional pathology that can mimic GTD is critical to avoiding pitfalls. Histologic and molecular analysis further aids in differential diagnosis. Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is inclusive of all malignant GTDs, and arises after 20% of molar pregnancies but can also be seen with non-molar gestations. Biochemical monitoring with human chorionic gonadotrophin is imperative for ongoing monitoring and surveillance and allows early detection of this entity. Doppler US is used for confirmation of diagnosis with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reserved for problem solving or assessment of myometrial invasion. This is of heightened relevance in patients undergoing surgical management. Cross sectional imaging is reserved for patients in the setting of GTN for the purposes of staging, prognostication and in the setting of recurrent disease. This may require a combination of computed tomography, MRI and positron emission tomography. Doppler US can provide insight into chemotherapeutic response/predict resistance in patients with GTN. As our understanding of these disorders evolves, there has been maturation in management options with a shift from traditional chemotherapy to innovative immunotherapy, particularly in the setting of resistant or high-risk disease.

From Uterus to Brain: An Update on Epidemiology, Clinical Features, and Treatment of Brain Metastases From Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia

In this review, we provide the state of the art about brain metastases (BMs) from gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN), a rare condition. Data concerning the epidemiology, clinical presentation, innovations in therapeutic modalities, and outcomes of GTN BMs are comprehensively presented with particular attention to the role of radiotherapy, neurosurgery, and the most recent chemotherapy regimens. Good response rates have been achieved thanks to multi-agent chemotherapy, but brain involvement by GTNs entails significant risks for patients’ health since sudden and extensive intracranial hemorrhages are possible. Moreover, despite the evolution of treatment protocols, a small proportion of these patients ultimately develops a resistant disease. To tackle this unmet clinical need, immunotherapy has been recently proposed. The role of this novel option for this subset of patients as well as the achieved results so far are also discussed.

The optimal management of brain metastases from gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

INTRODUCTION

Gestational trophoblastic diseases and neoplasias (GTDs and GTNs) comprise a spectrum of diseases arising from abnormally proliferating placental/trophoblastic tissue following an antecedent molar or non-molar pregnancy. These can spread to the brain hematogenously in about 10% of patients, mostly in high-risk disease. The optimal management of patients with brain metastases from GTN is unclear, with multiple systemic regimens under use and an uncertain role for radiotherapy.

AREAS COVERED

Here, we review the epidemiology, workup, and treatment of GTN with central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Literature searches in PubMed and Google Scholar were conducted using combinations of keywords such as "gestational trophoblastic disease," "gestational trophoblastic neoplasia," "choriocarcinoma," and "brain metastases."

EXPERT OPINION

Systemic therapy is the frontline treatment for GTN with brain metastases, and radiotherapy should only be considered in the context of a clinical trial or for resistant/recurrent disease. Surgery has a limited role in palliating symptoms or relieving intracranial pressure/bleeding. Given the highly specialized care these patients require, treatment at a high-volume referral center with multidisciplinary collaboration likely leads to better outcomes. Randomized trials should be conducted to determine the best systemic therapy option for GTN.

Current chemotherapeutic management of patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) describes a heterogeneous group of interrelated lesions that arise from abnormal proliferation of placental trophoblasts. GTN lesions are histologically distinct, malignant lesions that include invasive hydatidiform mole, choriocarcinoma, placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) and epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT). GTN tumors are generally highly responsive to chemotherapy. Early stage GTN disease is often cured with single-agent chemotherapy. In contrast, advanced stage disease requires multiagent combination chemotherapeutic regimens to achieve a cure. Various adjuvant surgical procedures can be helpful to treat women with GTN. Patients require careful followup after completing treatment and recurrent disease should be aggressively managed. Women with a history of GTN are at increased risk of subsequent GTN, hence future pregnancies require careful monitoring to ensure normal gestational development. This article will review the workup, management and followup of women with all stages of GTN as well as with recurrent disease.

The role of neurosurgery in the treatment of cerebral metastases from choriocarcinoma: a report of two cases

Cerebral metastases from choriocarcinoma are a poor prognostic indicator of outcome in both the World Health Organization and FIGO classification systems. However, with the increased experience with chemotherapy and radiotherapy the prognosis of this group of patients has improved substantially. Neurosurgery remains an option for selected patients. We present two patients who underwent craniotomy as part of their management of choriocarcinoma, and review the role of neurosurgery in the treatment of gestational trophoblastic disease.

Prognosis of patients treated with whole-brain radiation therapy for metastatic gestational trophoblastic disease

We evaluated the effect of multiple treatment- and disease-related variables on the outcome of patients receiving whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) for metastatic gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). Between November 1967 and December 1994, 21 patients were treated at our institution for GTD metastatic to the brain. All received WBRT, of median 2200 cGy (range 200-3600 cGy). Median follow-up, from date of diagnosis of brain metastases, was 77 months (range 11-170 months). The 5-year actuarial local control of initial brain metastases with > or = 2200 cGy was 91%, compared to 24% with < 2200 cGy (P = 0.05). The 2- and 5-year actuarial survivals of the 9 patients whose disease was controlled at extracranial sites were 100 and 83%, respectively, compared to 8 and 0%, respectively, for the 12 whose extracranial disease was not controlled (P = 0.0002). Four (33%) of the patients with persistent or progressive extracranial disease later developed new sites of brain metastases, compared to 0% of the patients whose extracranial disease was controlled (P = 0.05). Eleven patients progressed at their initial site(s) of brain metastasis or developed new intracranial lesions; 6 of them died of brain metastases. Survival of patients with GTD metastatic to the brain is excellent if extracranial disease can be controlled. The total dose of radiation is critical in achieving control of initial brain metastases. Patients with uncontrolled extracranial disease are more likely to develop new brain metastases. Salvage of intracranial failures after WBRT is rare.

Multiple cerebral pseudoaneurysms and hemorrhages: the expanding spectrum of metastatic cerebral choriocarcinoma

Cerebral metastases occur in 10-20% of patients with choriocarcinoma. Although single oncotic and pseudoaneurysms have been reported, multiple pseudoaneurysms and hemorrhages are rare. A 33-year-old woman developed 10 intracerebral hemorrhages over a 30-day period. Angiogram showed multiple focal areas of delayed contrast washout in distal vessels. Autopsy revealed intravascular choriocarcinoma without true aneurysm formation. A diagnosis of choriocarcinoma should be considered for women of childbearing age presenting with cerebrovascular syndromes, especially those found to have cerebral aneurysm pseudoaneurysm and/or hemorrhage.

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.

Treatment failure in malignant gestational trophoblastic disease

One hundred and thirty-three patients with malignant gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) were admitted. All patients (86/86) of the nonmetastatic and metastatic low-risk groups and 89.4% (42/47) of the metastatic high-risk group showed remission. The overall remission rate was 96.2%. Among 5 patients with brain metastases, however, only one (20%) survived. We arrived at two main conclusions. First, brain metastatic lesions did not successfully respond to therapy utilizing conventional chemotherapeutic regimens. Second, the key factors for successful outcome in brain metastases were early diagnosis and aggressive initial therapy. Therefore, early detection of brain metastases should be made with: (1) fine computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), (2) measurement of the ratio of serum to cerebrospinal fluid hCG concentration, and (3) early recognition of their clinical features.

Endometrial cancer metastasis to brain: report of two cases and a review of the literature

Two cases of brain metastases from endometrial adenocarcinoma are reported. A 70-year-old female presented with lung metastases 14 months after hysterectomy and adjuvant treatment. At 6 months later, a cerebellar metastasis was resected and followed by radiation therapy. The patient died 5.5 months later. In the second case, a 60-year-old patient developed a lung endometrial metastasis 6 years after initial treatment. At 1 year later she was diagnosed with bilateral hydrocephalus caused by a left temporal and posterior fossa tumor. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was inserted and she received brain radiation. Two weeks later she gradually became comatose, with right hemiparesis. A metastatic, hemorrhagic temporal tumor was resected but the patient never regained consciousness and died after 7 weeks. The existing literature on brain metastases from endometrial adenocarcinoma is reviewed.