Analysis of risk factors for postmolar trophoblastic disease: categorization of risk factors and effect of prophylactic chemotherapy

Primary prevention of post-molar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia in high-risk complete hydatidiform mole: A single-dose prophylactic actinomycin D, associated with uterine evacuation - a long retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of actinomycin D (ActD) as prophylactic chemotherapy (P-chem) in patients with high-risk complete hydatidiform mole (Hr-CHM) on progression to gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN).

METHODS

From 1996 to 2023, 426 Hr-CHMs were selected in a cohort of 1623 patients with gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). From 1996 to 2023, 290 patients with Hr-CHMs received a single bolus dose of Act-D at the time of uterine evacuation (Hr-CHM P-chem group); 136 with the same risk factors did not receive P-chem (Hr-CHM control group). The variables assessed in post-molar GTN were incidence and morbidity considering hCG serum level at diagnosis, relapse frequency, hysterectomy rates.

RESULTS

Post-molar GTN was diagnosed in 19 % of the patients with Hr-CHM P-Chem (55/290) and in 39.7 % of the patients in the Hr-CHM control group (54/136) (P < 0.001). The relative risk of developing post-molar GTN decreased by 52 % (RR = 0.48; 95 % CI: 0.35-0.66; P < 0.001), with a number needed to treat (NNT) of 5. Patients in the P-chem group had a lower hCG serum level (P = 0.007), lower risk of recurrence (P = 0.001) and lower risk of hysterectomy (P = 0.04), with no effect on time to GTN diagnosis (P = 0.09), first line chemotherapy response (P = 0.50) and time to remission (P = 0.72).

CONCLUSION

A single bolus dose of Act-D (1.25 mg/m2) given as P-chem during uterine evacuation in patients with Hr-CHM may safely prevent the incidence of post-molar GTN and reduce the morbidity associated with GTN. This prophylactic approach can be adopted at any trophoblastic disease center (TDC).

The effect of prophylactic chemotherapy on treatment outcome of postmolar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether prophylactic chemotherapy (P-chem) increased the drug resistance rate of postmolar GTN and whether the first-line chemotherapy should be different from P-chem.

METHODS

Postmolar GTN received P-Chem was defined as P-Chem group. Postmolar GTN without P-chem was randomly selected as control group according to the ratio of 1:3 (P-chem:control) and matched by age for low risk and high risk GTN separately.

RESULTS

Totally 455 low-risk and 32 high-risk postmolar GTN patients were included. WHO risk score, chemotherapy cycles to achieve hCG normalization and resistant rate were similar between P-chem (27 cases) and control (81 cases) group. Among low-risk GTN patients, interval from hydatidiform mole to GTN was significantly longer in P-chem group than control (44 vs 69 days, P = 0.001). Total chemotherapy cycles and resistant rate were similar between low-risk GTN treated with same agent as P-chem (group A) and alternative agent (group B). But group A needed more chemotherapy cycles to achieve hCG normalization than group B.

CONCLUSIONS

P-chem delayed the time to GTN diagnosis, but didn't increase risk score or lead to drug resistance of postmolar GTN. Alternative agent different from P-chem had the potential of enhancing chemotherapy response in low- risk postmolar GTN.

Early prediction of post-molar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia and resistance to methotrexate, based on a single serum human chorionic gonadotropin measurement

BACKGROUND

Clinicians are unable to provide individualized counseling regarding risk of progression for patients with a complete hydatidiform mole (CHM). We developed nomograms enabling early prediction of post-molar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) and resistance to methotrexate (MTX) based on a single serum human chorion gonadotropin (hCG) measurement.

METHODS

We generated two nomograms with logistic regression: to predict post-molar GTN, and MTX resistance. For patients with high probability to progress to post-molar GTN or MTX resistance, we determined hCG cut-offs at 97.5% specificity to select patients for additional- or adjustments in current treatment.

RESULTS

The nomograms had a good to excellent ability to distinguish either between patients with uneventful hCG regression versus progression to post molar GTN, or between patients cured by MTX versus patients in whom resistance would occur. At 97.5% specificity, we identified 66% (95%CI 56-75) of the 149 patients who would progress to post-molar GTN, four weeks after initial curettage. For patients treated with MTX, we identified 55% (95%CI 23-83) of the 43 patients who would become resistant, preceding their third course at 97.5% specificity.

CONCLUSION

The nomograms and cut-off levels can be used to assist in counseling for patients diagnosed with CHM.

The management of hydatidiform mole using prophylactic chemotherapy and hysterectomy for high-risk patients decreased the incidence of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia in Vietnam: a retrospective observational study

The management of hydatidiform mole (HM) and the incidence of post-molar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) in Vietnam has not been reported to date. This study aimed to study the incidence of HM and post-molar GTN and identify factors associated with post-molar GTN at a tertiary hospital in Vietnam. Five hundred and eighty-four patients who were treated for HM at Tu Du Hospital between January and December 2010 were included in this study. The mean age and gestational age at the first evacuation were 28.8 years old and 11.0 weeks, respectively. After the initial evacuation and pathological examination, 87 patients who were older than 40 or did not wish to have children underwent a hysterectomy, while the others underwent second curettage. All 472 patients who had human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) ≥ 100,000 IU/L before treatment received one cycle of methotrexate with folinic acid as prophylactic chemotherapy. The incidence of HM was 11.1 per 1,000 deliveries; 47 patients (8.0%) developed post-molar GTN. Gestational week, hCG level at one week after the first evacuation, and pathological remnants were significantly associated with the development of post-molar GTN. The results of this study suggest that prophylactic chemotherapy and hysterectomy may be useful for high-risk HM patients to reduce post-molar GTN in settings in which the risk of post-molar GTN and loss to follow-up after HM are greater and hCG measurements and appropriate GTN treatments are unavailable. However, future studies on the long-term outcomes and side effects of prophylactic therapies on HM are required.

Prophylactic chemotherapy for hydatidiform mole to prevent gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

BACKGROUND

This is an update of the original Cochrane Review published in Cochrane Library, Issue 10, 2012.Hydatidiform mole (HM), also called a molar pregnancy, is characterised by an overgrowth of foetal chorionic tissue within the uterus. HMs may be partial (PM) or complete (CM) depending on their gross appearance, histopathology and karyotype. PMs usually have a triploid karyotype, derived from maternal and paternal origins, whereas CMs are diploid and have paternal origins only. Most women with HM can be cured by evacuation of retained products of conception (ERPC) and their fertility preserved. However, in some women the growth persists and develops into gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN), a malignant form of the disease that requires treatment with chemotherapy. CMs have a higher rate of malignant transformation than PMs. It may be possible to reduce the risk of GTN in women with HM by administering prophylactic chemotherapy (P-Chem). However, P-Chem given before or after evacuation of HM to prevent malignant sequelae remains controversial, as the risks and benefits of this practice are unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of P-Chem to prevent GTN in women with a molar pregnancy. To investigate whether any subgroup of women with HM may benefit more from P-Chem than others.

SEARCH METHODS

For the original review we performed electronic searches in the Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, Issue 2, 2012), MEDLINE (1946 to February week 4, 2012) and Embase (1980 to 2012, week 9). We developed the search strategy using free text and MeSH. For this update we searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, Issue 5, 2017), MEDLINE (February 2012 to June week 1, 2017) and Embase (February 2012 to 2017, week 23). We also handsearched reference lists of relevant literature to identify additional studies and searched trial registries.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of P-Chem for HM.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion in the review and extracted data using a specifically designed data collection form. Meta-analyses were performed by pooling data from individual trials using Review Manager 5 (RevMan 5) software in line with standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane methodology.

MAIN RESULTS

The searches identified 161 records; after de-duplication and title and abstract screening 90 full-text articles were retrieved. From these we included three RCTs with a combined total of 613 participants. One study compared prophylactic dactinomycin to no prophylaxis (60 participants); the other two studies compared prophylactic methotrexate to no prophylaxis (420 and 133 participants). All participants were diagnosed with CMs. We considered the latter two studies to be of poor methodological quality.P-Chem reduced the risk of GTN occurring in women following a CM (3 studies, 550 participants; risk ratio (RR) 0.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.24 to 0.57; I² = 0%; P < 0.00001; low-quality evidence). However, owing to the poor quality (high risk of bias) of two of the included studies, we performed sensitivity analyses excluding these two studies. This left only one small study of high-risk women to contribute data for this primary outcome (59 participants; RR 0.28, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.73; P = 0.01); therefore we consider this evidence to be of low quality.The time to diagnosis was longer in the P-Chem group than the control group (2 studies, 33 participants; mean difference (MD) 28.72, 95% CI 13.19 to 44.24; P = 0.0003; low-quality evidence); and the P-Chem group required more courses to cure subsequent GTN (1 poor-quality study, 14 participants; MD 1.10, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.68; P = 0.0002; very low quality evidence).There were insufficient data to perform meta-analyses for toxicity, overall survival, drug resistance and reproductive outcomes.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

P-Chem may reduce the risk of progression to GTN in women with CMs who are at a high risk of malignant transformation; however, current evidence in favour of P-Chem is limited by the poor methodological quality and small size of the included studies. As P-Chem may increase drug resistance, delays treatment of GTN and may expose women toxic side effects, this practice cannot currently be recommended.

Prophylactic chemotherapy for hydatidiform mole to prevent gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

BACKGROUND

Hydatidiform mole (HM), also called a molar pregnancy, is characterised by an overgrowth of foetal chorionic tissue within the uterus. HMs may be partial (PM) or complete (CM) depending on their gross appearance, histopathology and karyotype. PMs usually have a triploid karyotype, derived from maternal and paternal origins, whereas CMs are diploid and have paternal origins only. Most women with HM can be cured by evacuation of retained products of conception (ERPC) and their fertility preserved. However, in some women the growth persists and develops into gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN), a malignant form of the disease that requires treatment with chemotherapy. CMs have a higher rate of malignant transformation than PMs. It may be possible to reduce the risk of GTN in women with HM by administering prophylactic chemotherapy (P-Chem). However, P-Chem given before or after evacuation of HM to prevent malignant sequelae remains controversial, as the risks and benefits of this practice are unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To systematically review the evidence for the effectiveness and safety of P-Chem to prevent GTN in women with a molar pregnancy.

SEARCH METHODS

We performed electronic searches in the Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, Issue 2, 2012), MEDLINE (1946 to February week 4, 2012) and EMBASE (1980 to week 9, 2012). The search strategy was developed using free text and medical subject headings (MESH). We handsearched reference lists of relevant literature to identify additional studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of P-Chem for HM.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion in the review and extracted data using a specifically designed data collection form. Meta-analyses were performed by pooling data from individual trials using RevMan 5.1 software.

MAIN RESULTS

We included three RCTs with a combined total of 613 participants. One study compared prophylactic dactinomycin to no prophylaxis (60 participants); the other two studies compared prophylactic methotrexate to no prophylaxis (420 and 133 participants). All participants were diagnosed with CMs. We considered the latter two studies to be of poor methodological quality.P-Chem reduced the risk of GTN occurring in women following a CM (3 studies, 550 participants; RR 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.24 to 0.57; I(2) = 0%; P < 0.00001), However, owing to the poor quality of two of the included studies, we performed sensitivity analyses excluding these two studies. This left only one small study of high-risk women to contribute data for this primary outcome (59 participants; RR 0.28; 95% CI 0.10 to 0.73; P = 0.01), therefore we consider this evidence to be of a low quality.The time to diagnosis was longer in the P-Chem group than the control group (2 studies, 33 participants; mean difference (MD) 28.72; 95% CI 13.19 to 44.24; P = 0.0003) and the P-Chem group required more courses to cure subsequent GTN (1 poor-quality study, 14 participants; MD 1.10; 95% CI 0.52 to 1.68; P = 0.0002). We consider this evidence to be of a low to very low quality for similar reasons to those listed above.There were insufficient data to perform meta-analyses for toxicity, overall survival, drug resistance and reproductive outcomes.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

P-Chem may reduce the risk of progression to GTN in women with CMs who are at a high risk of malignant transformation; however, current evidence in favour of P-Chem is limited by the poor methodological quality and small size of the included studies. As P-Chem may increase drug resistance, delay treatment of GTN and expose women unnecessarily to toxic side effects, this practice cannot currently be recommended.

[Gestational trophoblastic diseases. Apropos of 105 cases]

The authors report a retrospective study of 105 observations of gestational trophoblastic diseases managed at the university clinic of obstetric gynecology I (Pr Chaoui). Of this study, one listed 72 cases of complete mole hydatiforme with 5 cases of sacrofetal pregnancy. The invasive mole is found in 4 cases and the choriocarcinoma in 24 cases. The general frequency of this pathology is of 1/770 pregnancies. The age of our patients varies from 15 to 52 years with an average age 27 years and the multiparity is found in 50% of the cases. 103 patients (95.5%) consulted for metrorrhagia associated pelvic pains in 31 cases (30%). The toxic syndrome was present in 20 patients (12%) with a preeclampsy in 6 cases (5.71%). The physical examination showed a very increased uterus of size in 92 cases (87.5%) associated adnexal mass in 37 cases (35.2%). The diagnosis was especially echographic in the totality of the cases associated or not with a proportioning of plasmatic beta HCG or prolans urinary. The treatment of the trophoblastic disease varies simple endo-uterine aspiration (85%) until the chemotherapy treatment (32.4%), the hysterectomy was indicated in a third of the cases. The evolution of the non complicated mole hydatiforme was good in 100% of the cases, it quasi totality of the invasive moles presented a complete remission. Among the 24 choriocarcinoma, we deplore 4 deaths in a table of pulmonary, hepatic and cerebral metastases. In order to improve the forecast of these diseases, the diagnosis must be early with an adequate treatment and a rigorous monitoring.