Challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia worldwide

Treatment of High-Risk Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia

High-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia encompasses patients with high volumes of disease or diffuse metastatic involvement who are unlikely to achieve remission with single-agent chemotherapy. Etoposide-based multi-drug regimens form the core of high-risk therapy. Second-line therapy includes platinum-based regimens. Increasingly, third-line therapy uses immunotherapy. Surgical intervention may be required to resect foci of resistant disease or manage complications. Treatment should continue until the hCG is less that the reference range for normal, followed by at least 3 cycles of consolidation therapy. At least 2 years of hCG surveillance are advisable for most patients requiring multiagent therapy to encompass 95% of relapses.

Diagnosis and Management of Molar Pregnancies

Complete and partial molar pregnancies arise from abnormal fertilization with marked proliferation of syncytiotrophoblasts. Earlier diagnosis has reduced the frequency of severe medical complications at presentation; however, the risk of progression to gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) has remained unchanged. Initial assessment should include serum hCG measurement after physical examination, laboratory testing for organ dysfunction, and Doppler ultrasound. Following uterine evacuation, pathologic assessment can distinguish complete from partial moles or non-molar gestations. Close surveillance is essential for the timely diagnosis of GTN. Cure rates and subsequent obstetrics outcomes are excellent, but all patients should be referred for psychologic support and expert level care.

Gestational Trophoblastic Disease: Complete versus Partial Hydatidiform Moles

Hydatidiform moles, including both complete and partial moles, constitute a subset of gestational trophoblastic diseases characterized by abnormal fertilization resulting in villous hydrops and trophoblastic hyperplasia with or without embryonic development. This involves chromosomal abnormalities, where one or two sperms fertilize an empty oocyte (complete hydatidiform mole (CHM); mostly 46,XX) or two sperms fertilize one oocyte (partial hydatidiform mole (PHM); mostly 69,XXY). Notably, recurrent occurrences are associated with abnormal genomic imprinting of maternal effect genes such as NLRP7 (chromosome 19q13.4) and KHDC3L (chromosome 6q1). Ongoing efforts to enhance identification methods have led to the identification of growth-specific markers, including p57 (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1C; CDKN1C), which shows intact nuclear expression in the villous cytotrophoblast and villous stromal cells in PHMs and loss of expression in CHMs. Treatment of hydatidiform moles includes dilation and curettage for uterine evacuation of the molar pregnancy followed by surveillance of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels to confirm disease resolution and rule out the development of any gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. In this review, we provide a synopsis of the existing literature on hydatidiform moles, their diagnosis, histopathologic features, and management.

Clinical features and demographic characteristics of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: Single center experience and the SEER database

The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical features and demographic characteristics of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) patients, specifically choriocarcinoma (CC), placental site trophoblastic tumour (PSTT), and epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT). We utilized data from a local hospital and the SEER database, as well as survival outcomes of CC in SEER database. Additionally, we used multiple risk factors to create a prognostic nomogram model for CC patients. The study included GTN patients from the SEER database between 1975 and 2016 as well as those from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi 'an Jiaotong University between January 2005 and May 2022. Related factors of patients were compared using the chi-square (χ2) or Fisher's exact test. For assessing overall survival we employed the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. To construct the nomogram, we used Cox regression. Statistically significant differences were found between CC and PSTT/ETT patients in terms of surgery in local hospital, as well as age and year of diagnosis in the SEER database. Moreover, significant differences were observed between low and high (HR) /ultra-high risk (UHR) groups regarding FIGO stage, surgery and chief complaint at the local hospital, and FIGO stage, surgery and unemployment in the SEER database. The Cox regression analysis confirmed that age, race, surgery, marital status, FIGO stage, and unemployment were correlated with CC prognosis. Furthermore, the analysis showed that patients aged 40 years or older and those with FIGO Ⅲ/Ⅳ were independent prognostic factors of CC. The study indicates that atypical symptoms or signs may be the main reasons for HR /UHR patients to seek medical treatment. Therefore, providing multidisciplinary care is recommended for CC patients experiencing psychological distress due to unfavorable marital status or unemployment.

Review of current literature on gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

BACKGROUND

Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia (GTN) is a disease of the reproductive age group with an incidence rate of <1% among all tumors involving the female reproductive tract. It occurs because of aberrant fertilization. Patients are diagnosed early because of aggravated symptoms during pregnancy. Moreover, patients also bleed from the tumor sites, which leads to early presentation. A cure rate of 100% can be achieved with adequate treatment.

MAIN BODY

In this literature review, the authors have brought to attention the risk factors, classification, and various treatment options in GTN patients according to their stratification as per the WHO scoring system. Patients are categorized into low and high risk based on the FIGO scoring system. Patients with low risk are treated with single-agent methotrexate or actinomycin-D. Despite the superiority of actinomycin-D in terms of efficacy, methotrexate remains the first choice of therapy in low-risk patients due to its better toxicity profile. Multi-agent chemotherapy with etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin-D, cyclophosphamide and vincristine (EMA-CO) leads to complete remission in 93% of high-risk GTN patients. Around 40% of patients with incomplete responses are salvaged with platinum-based multi-agent chemotherapy. Isolated chemo-resistant clones can be salvaged with surgical interventions.

CONCLUSION

The mortality in patients with GTN has significantly reduced over time. With adequate multi-disciplinary support, patients with GTN can ultimately be cured and can spend every day healthy reproductive life.

The impact of the distance traveled between residence and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia reference center and clinical outcomes in Brazilian women

OBJECTIVE

To relate the distance traveled from the patient's residence to the gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) reference center (RC) and the occurrence of unfavorable clinical outcomes, as well as to estimate the possible association between this distance and the risk of metastatic disease at presentation, the need for multiagent chemotherapy to achieve remission and loss to follow-up before remission.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective historical cohort study of patients with GTN followed at 8 Brazilian GTN-RC, from January 1st, 2000 - December 31st, 2017.

RESULTS

Evaluating 1055 cases of GTN, and using a receiver operating characteristic curve, we found a distance of 56 km (km) from the residence to the GTN-RC (sensitivity = 0.57, specificity = 0.61) best predicted the occurrence of at least one of the following outcomes: occurrence of metastatic disease, need for multiagent chemotherapy to achieve remission, or loss to follow-up during chemotherapy. Multivariate logistic regression adjusted by age, ethnicity, marital status and the reference center location showed that when the distance between residence and GTN-RC was ≥56 km, there was an increase in the occurrence of metastatic disease (relative risk - RR:3.27; 95%CI:2.20-4.85), need for multiagent chemotherapy (RR:1.36; 95%CI:1.05-1.76), loss to follow-up during chemotherapy (RR:4.52; 95CI:1.93-10.63), occurrence of chemoresistance (RR:4.61; 95%CI:3.07-6.93), relapse (RR:10.27; 95%CI:3.08-34.28) and death due to GTN (RR:3.62; 95%CI:1.51-8.67).

CONCLUSIONS

The distance between the patient's residence and the GTN-RC is a risk factor for unfavorable outcomes, including death from this disease. It is crucial to guarantee these patients get prompt access to the GTN-RC and receive follow-up support.

Dysgerminoma Masquerading as Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia

Background

Persistent elevation in beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) following a pregnancy is concerning for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). However, the differential diagnosis should remain broad during the evaluation process.

Case

A 34-year-old G3P3 presented with elevated β-hCG four months after cesarean delivery with bilateral tubal ligation. The patient was treated with methotrexate for a presumed new ectopic pregnancy. Due to persistent β-hCG elevation, she received actinomycin-D for GTN treatment. After completing chemotherapy, her β-hCG increased. The patient underwent a laparoscopic hysterectomy with unplanned left oophorectomy due to its nodular appearance at the time of surgery. Pathology confirmed a dysgerminoma of the ovary and benign uterus.

Conclusion

Although dysgerminomas are uncommon, they should be considered when β-hCG levels remain elevated despite therapies for more common pathologies.

Current chemotherapeutic options for the treatment of gestational trophoblastic disease

INTRODUCTION

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is a rare tumor that arises from trophoblastic tissues with high remission rates after chemotherapy treatment. GTN can develop from any gestational events, such as miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and preterm/term pregnancy, but is more frequent after hydatidiform mole. The sensitivity of this tumor to chemotherapy and the presence of an exceptional tumor marker allow high remission rates, especially when patients are treated in referral centers.

AREAS COVERED

Observational, retrospective, prospective, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis studies focusing on GTN treatment. We searched PubMed, Medline, and the Library of Congress from January 1965 to May 2022.

EXPERT OPINION

Early GTN diagnosis allows low-toxic and highly effective treatment. Even multimetastatic disease has high rates of remission with multiagent regimen chemotherapy. Surgery is reserved for uterine disease in patients who have completed childbearing, in cases of chemoresistance to multiagent regimens or in the rare cases of placental site trophoblastic tumor or epithelioid trophoblastic tumor. While resistance is managed by salvage chemotherapy, cases with limited clinical response to sequential regimens have been successfully treated with immunotherapy.

Influence of COVID-19 pandemic on molar pregnancy and postmolar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: An observational study

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether the incidence and aggressiveness of molar pregnancy (MP) and postmolar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN

Observational study with two separate designs: retrospective multicentre cohort of patients with MP/postmolar GTN and a cross-sectional analysis, with application of a questionnaire.

SETTING

Six Brazilian Reference Centres on gestational trophoblastic disease.

POPULATION

2662 patients with MP/postmolar GTN treated from March-December/2015-2020 were retrospectively evaluated and 528 of these patients answered a questionnaire.

METHODS

Longitudinal retrospective multicentre study of patients diagnosed with MP/ postmolar GTN at presentation and a cross-sectional analysis, with application of a questionnaire, exclusive to patients treated during the period of study, to assess living and health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with previous years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The incidence of MP/postmolar GTN.

RESULTS

Compared with the last 5 pre-pandemic years, MP/postmolar GTN incidence remained stable during 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic). Multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for the patient age, showed that during 2020, presentation with MP was more likely to be >10 weeks of gestation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.90-3.29, P < 0.001), have a pre-evacuation hCG level ≥100 000 iu/l (aOR 1.77, 95% CI 1.38-2.28, P < 0.001) and time to the initiation of chemotherapy ≥7 months (aOR 1.86, 95% CI 1.01-3.43, P = 0.047) when compared with 2015-2019.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the incidence of MP/postmolar GTN remained stable during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, the pandemic was associated with greater gestational age at MP diagnosis and more protracted delays in initiation of chemotherapy for postmolar GTN.

Resistance to single-agent chemotherapy in low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

Background

Methotrexate (MTX) and actinomycin D (ActD) have been used as first-line chemotherapy agents in the treatment of low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). Although low-risk GTN is considered a curable disease, its reported primary remission rates of 49 to 93% reflect the difficulties of treatment and different factors influencing it. Hence, this study aimed to determine the remission rates and related factors of single-agent chemotherapy resistance in low-risk GTN patients.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with diagnosed low-risk GTN who received either MTX once a week (IM, 30mg/m2) or ActD once every two weeks (pulsed IV, 1.25mg/m2). Then, the patients were followed-up until complete remission or single-agent treatment failure to assess resistance rate and related factors.

Results

Eighty-four patients were included in the study (18 patients were receiving MTX and 66 patients were receiving ActD). 85.7% of all participants achieved complete remission after first-line chemotherapy (72.2% in MTX vs 89.4% in ActD). There was a significant association for higher tumor size (P=0.046), the occurrence of metastasis (P=0.019), and pretreatment β-HCG levels (P=0.005) with resistance to treatment.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated higher tumor size, the occurrence of metastasis, and pretreatment β-HCG levels have been associated with increased resistance to first-line chemotherapy agents.

Advances in diagnostics and management of gestational trophoblastic disease

BACKGROUND

Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is a heterogeneous group of rare tumours characterised by abnormal proliferation of trophoblastic tissue. It consists of benign or premalignant conditions, such as complete and partial molar pregnancy and variants of malignant diseases. The malignant tumours specifically are commonly referred to as gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). They consist of invasive mole, choriocarcinoma, placental-site trophoblastic tumour (PSTT) and epithelioid trophoblastic tumour (ETT).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with GTD are often asymptomatic, although vaginal bleeding is a common presenting symptom. With the advances in ultrasound imaging in early pregnancy, the diagnosis of molar pregnancy is most commonly made in the first trimester of pregnancy. Sometimes, additional imaging such as chest X-ray, CT or MRI can help detect metastatic disease. Most women can be cured, and their reproductive function can be preserved. In this review, we focus on the advances in management strategies for gestational trophoblastic disease as well as possible future research directions.

Diagnostic challenge of perimenopause molar pregnancy in a 52-year-old lady: Case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Gestational trophoblastic disease is an uncommon group of pregnancy-related disorders, with a course of trophoblastic proliferation, including hydatidiform mole (Agha et al., 2020), invasive and metastatic mole, choriocarcinoma, placental-site trophoblastic tumor, and epithelial trophoblastic tumor. Choriocarcinoma and trophoblastic tumor of the placenta are the most important tumors associated with pregnancy.

CASE FINDINGS

A 52-year-old woman Para 2 Living 3, 3 years post-menopausal presented with prolong per vaginal bleeding for five weeks accompanied by lower abdominal pain. Diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease (choriocarcinoma type) was made by using beta HCG, radiology, and histology report. Patient underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salphingo-opherectomy, followed by 2 cycles of chemotherapy.

DISCUSSION

Trophoblast disease of pregnancy disease includes a unique tissue group with a wide range of endocrine and angiogenic functions derived from placental trophoblasts. They are associated with uncommon, interrelated conditions, which differ according to the following parameters: invasion, regression, metastasis, and recurrence rate. Beta HCG remains initial investigation to be taken in patients suspecting trophoblastic disease.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Gestational trophoblastic disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of peri and postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. Long term follows up with beta HCG needs to be done to detect recurrence.

Doxorubicin resistant choriocarcinoma cell line derived spheroidal cells exhibit stem cell markers but reduced invasion

Cell cycle-specific cancer chemotherapy is based on the ability of a drug to halt, minimise or destroy rapidly dividing cells. However, their efficacy is limited by the emergence of a self-renewing cell pool called “cancer stem cells” (CSC). Choriocarcinoma is a tumour of trophoblastic tissue. We, in this study, analysed whether spheroids generated from doxorubicin-treated and non-treated choriocarcinoma cell lines exhibit markers of stem cells. Two choriocarcinoma cell lines, namely JEG-3 and BeWo, were used in this study. Spheroids were generated from doxorubicin-treated cells and the non-treated cells under non-adherent condition, followed by analysis of stem-cell markers’ expression, namely NANOG, OCT4 and SOX2. Immunofluorescence analysis suggested a general increase in the markers’ concentration in spheroids relative to the parental cells. RT-qPCR and immunoblots showed an increase in the stem-cell marker expression in spheroids generated from doxorubicin-treated when compared to non-treated cells. In spheroids, Sox2 was significantly upregulated in doxorubicin-treated spheroids, whereas Nanog and Oct4 were generally downregulated when compared to non-treated spheroids. Both 2D and 3D invasion assays showed that the spheroids treated with doxorubicin exhibited reduced invasion. Our data suggest that choriocarcinoma cell lines may have the potential to produce spheroidal cells, yet the drug-treatment affected the invasion potential of spheroids.

Current Evidence on Immunotherapy for Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia (GTN)

Simple Summary

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is a rare tumor group that arises from the malignant transformation of placental tissue. Based on the evaluation of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) anatomic staging and FIGO prognostic score, GTN is divided into low-, high-, and ultra-high-risk groups if the score obtained is less than or equal to 6, greater than 6 or greater than 12, respectively. The standard treatment is chemotherapy, using a single agent in low-risk disease and multiagent chemotherapy in high- and ultra-high-risk GTN. In chemoresistant forms of GTN, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1/2, could represent a new therapeutic strategy. In this study, we evaluate the available evidence on immune checkpoint inhibitors for GTN treatment.

Abstract

Background: Gestational trophoblastic disease includes a rare group of benign and malignant tumors derived from abnormal trophoblastic proliferation. Malignant forms are called gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) and include invasive mole, choriocarcinoma, placental site trophoblastic tumor and epithelioid trophoblastic tumor. Standard treatment of GTN is chemotherapy. The regimen of choice mainly depends on the FIGO prognostic score. Low-risk and high-risk GTN is treated with single-agent or multiagent chemotherapy, respectively. In the case of chemoresistance, immunotherapy may represent a new therapeutic strategy. Methods: Literature obtained from searches on PubMed concerning GTN and immunotherapy was reviewed. Results: Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and its ligands (PD-L1/2) are expressed in GTN. Published data on PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors alone in GTN were available for 51 patients. Pembrolizumab is an anti-PD-1 inhibitor used in chemoresistant forms of GTN. In the TROPHIMMUN trial, Avelumab, a monoclonal antibody inhibiting PD-L1, showed promising results only in patients with GTN resistant to monochemotherapy. Conversely, in patients with resistance to multiagent chemotherapy, treatment with Avelumab was discontinued due to severe toxicity and disease progression. The association of Camrelizumab and Apatinib could represent a different treatment for forms of GTN refractory to polychemotherapy or for relapses. Conclusions: Anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 might represent an important new treatment strategy for the management of chemoresistant/refractory GTN.

18F-FDG PET/CT May Predict Tumor Type and Risk Score in Gestational Trophoblastic Disease

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in predicting pathological prognostic factors, including tumor type and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) score, in gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD).

METHODS

Retrospective monocentric study including 24 consecutive patients who underwent to 18F-FDG PET/CT from May 2005 to March 2021 for GTD staging purpose. The following semiquantitative PET parameters were measured from the primary tumor and used for the analysis: maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), SUVmean, metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolisis (TLG). Statistical analysis included Spearman correlation coefficient to evaluate the correlations between imaging parameters and tumor type (nonmolar trophoblastic vs postmolar trophoblastic tumors) and risk groups (high vs low, defined according to the FIGO score), whereas area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the predictive value of the PET parameters. Mann-Whitney U test was used to further describe the parameter's potential in differentiating the populations.

RESULTS

SUVmax and SUVmean resulted fair (AUC, 0.783; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56-0.95) and good (AUC, 0.811; 95% CI, 0.59-0.97) predictors of tumor type, respectively, showing a low (ρ = 0.489, adjusted P = 0.030) and moderate (ρ = 0.538, adjusted P = 0.027) correlation. According to FIGO score, TLG was instead a fair predictor (AUC, 0.770; 95% CI, 0.50-0.99) for patient risk stratification.

CONCLUSIONS

18F-FDG PET parameters have a role in predicting GTD pathological prognostic factors, with SUVmax and SUVmean being predictive for tumor type and TLG for risk stratification.

Perinatal outcomes of first pregnancy after chemotherapy for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: a systematic review of observational studies and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess perinatal outcomes of first pregnancy after remission from gestational trophoblastic neoplasia and the impact of the time between the end of chemotherapy and the subsequent pregnancy.

DATA SOURCES

The Medical Subject Headings related to perinatal outcomes, chemotherapy, and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia were used alone or in combination to retrieve relevant articles. We searched all references registered until April, 2019 in Embase, LILACS, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

We included any observational or interventional studies that evaluated perinatal outcomes of first pregnancy after chemotherapy for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Animal studies, narrative reviews, expert opinions, and previous treatments with potential risks for future perinatal outcomes which may introduce confounding bias were excluded.

STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS

Two reviewers independently screened all identified references for eligibility and data extraction. Methodological quality and bias of included studies were assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies from the National Institutes of Health. For the meta-analysis, the measures of association were calculated using bivariate random-effects models. Statistical heterogeneity was evaluated with I² statistics and explored through sensitivity analysis. Publication bias was assessed by visual inspection of the funnel plot or Egger's test, according to the number of articles included. For all analyses, a P value of <.05 indicated statistical significance. This study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42018116513).

RESULTS

A total of 763 studies were identified after literature search and 23 original studies were included in the systematic review and in the meta-analysis. The combined data from the subgroup meta-analysis (outcome vs time after chemotherapy) showed an incidence of spontaneous abortion of 15.28% (95% confidence interval, 12.37-18.74; I²=73%), 3.30% of malformation (95% confidence interval, 2.27-4.79; I²=31%), 6.19% of prematurity (95% confidence interval, 5.03-7.59; I²=0), and 1.73% of stillbirth (95% confidence interval, 1.17-2.55; I²=0%). These results were not influenced by the time between the end of chemotherapy and the subsequent pregnancy in most of the studied outcomes, including malformation (P=.14, I²=31%), prematurity (P=.46, I²=0), and stillbirth (P=.66, I²=0). However, there was a higher occurrence of spontaneous abortion (P<.01, I²=73%) in pregnancies that occurred ≤6 months after chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Chemotherapy for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia does not appear to increase the chance of unfavorable perinatal outcomes, except for the higher occurrence of spontaneous abortion in pregnancies occurring ≤6 months after chemotherapy.

Efficacies of FAEV and EMA/CO regimens as primary treatment for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

BACKGROUND

Guidelines recommend etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D (EMA)/cyclophosphamide, vincristine (CO) as first-line treatment for high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). However, the floxuridine, actinomycin D, etoposide and vincristine (FAEV) regimen is commonly used to treat these patients in China. We conducted a randomised controlled trial to compare the efficacies and toxicities of FAEV and EMA/CO.

METHODS

Ninety-four patients with GTN were enrolled between May 2015 and April 2019 and randomly assigned to the FAEV or EMA/CO regimen. The rates of complete remission and relapse and the toxicities were compared in August 2021.

RESULTS

Five patients were excluded from the analysis. There were 46 patients in the FAEV group and 43 patients in the EMA/CO group. The complete remission rates following primary treatment were 89.1% and 79.1% (P = 0.193), respectively. The relapse rates were 8.7% and 9.3% (P = 0.604). The apparent incidences of grade 4 myelosuppression were 60.9% and 32.6% (P = 0.008), respectively; however, they became both 32.6% (P = 0.996) after granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support. Other adverse reactions were similar in the two groups. No patient died of disease.

CONCLUSION

FAEV has comparable efficacy and toxicity to EMA/CO as the primary treatment for high-risk GTN, and may thus be another first-line choice of chemotherapy.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR1800017423.

Telemedicine in post-molar follow-up: is it a useful tool?

Background

Telemonitoring is an alternative to in-person appointments and overcomes geographic distance barriers.

Objective

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate adherence to post-molar follow-up using both WhatsApp and in-person appointments compared with standard care. The secondary objective was to evaluate the rate of completion of post-molar follow-up of complete moles, considering 6 and 3 months of duration.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Center, São Paulo Hospital. Patients with complete or partial mole treatment between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2018 were included in two groups: group 1 (patients from 2009 to 2013) and group 2 (from 2014 to 2018), before and after telemonitoring implementation, respectively. Complete follow-up was considered if after the first normal human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) level (<5 mIU/mL), the patient was followed up for an additional 30 days (partial mole) or 180 days (complete mole). Loss to post-molar follow-up with positive hCG was also evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson’s Χ2 test, 5% significance level (p=0.05), and R version 4.0.2.

Results

A total of 308 patients were included in the study, 92 of them were assessed in group 1 and 216 patients in group 2. There was no difference between the rates of complete follow-up after telemonitoring implementation (complete mole: 42/72=58.3% group 1 vs 85/163=52.1% group 2; p=0.38; partial mole: 16/20=80% group 1 vs 37/53=69.8 group 2; p=0.3), and no increase of loss to post-molar follow-up with positive hCG (8/92=8.7% group 1 vs 14/216=6.5% group 2; p=0.49). The shortening of follow-up of complete moles to 90 days increased the rate of complete post-molar follow-up (from 127/235=54.0% to 189/235=80.4%, p<0.001).

Conclusions

The association of telemonitoring with in-person appointments could have had an advantage in post-molar follow-up since it did not reduce adherence to hormonal surveillance. Shortening post-molar follow-up after complete mole to 90 days after the first normal hCG level increased the rate of complete post-molar follow-up.

Emotional and Clinical Aspects Observed in Women with Gestational Trophoblastic Disease: A Multidisciplinary Action

OBJECTIVE

 To evaluate the emotional and clinical aspects observed in women with gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) followed-up in a reference center (RC) by a multidisciplinary team.

METHODS

 Retrospective cohort study of the clinical records of 186 women with GTD and of the emotional aspects (EA) observed in these women by a team of psychologists and reported by the 389 support groups conducted from 2014 to 2018.

RESULTS

 The women were young (mean age: 31.2 years), 47% had no living child, 60% had planned the pregnancy, and 50% participated in two or more SG. Most women (n = 137; 73.6%) reached spontaneous remission of molar gestation in a median time of 10 weeks and had a total follow-up time of seven months. In the group of 49 women (26.3%) who progressed to gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN), time to remission after chemotherapy was 18 weeks, and total follow-up time was 36 months. EA included different levels of anxiety and depression, more evident in 9.1% of the women; these symptoms tended to occur more frequently in women older than 40 years (p = 0.067), less educated (p = 0.054), and whose disease progressed to GTN (p = 0.018), as well as in those who had to undergo multi-agent chemotherapy (p = 0.028) or hysterectomy (p = 0.001) adjuvant to clinical treatment.

CONCLUSION

 This study found several EA in association with all types of GTD. It also highlights the importance of specialized care only found in a RC, essential to support the recovery of the mental health of these women.

Advances in the diagnosis and early management of gestational trophoblastic disease

Gestational trophoblastic disease describes a group of rare pregnancy related disorders that span a spectrum of premalignant and malignant conditions. Hydatidiform mole (also termed molar pregnancy) is the most common form of this disease. Hydatidiform mole describes an abnormal conceptus containing two copies of the paternal genome, which is classified as partial when the maternal genome is present or complete when the maternal genome is absent. Hydatidiform mole typically presents in the first trimester with irregular vaginal bleeding and can be suspected on ultrasound but confirmation requires histopathological evaluation of the products of conception. Most molar pregnancies resolve without treatment after uterine evacuation, but occasionally the disease persists and develops into gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Close monitoring of women after molar pregnancy, with regular measurement of human chorionic gonadotrophin concentrations, allows for early detection of malignancy. Given the rarity of the disease, clinical management and treatment is best provided in specialist centres where very high cure rates are achievable. This review looks at advances in the diagnosis and early management of gestational trophoblastic disease and highlights updates to disease classification and clinical guidelines. Use of molecular genotyping for improved diagnostic accuracy and risk stratification is reviewed and future biomarkers for the earlier detection of malignancy are considered.

DPP4 Regulates DHCR24-Mediated Cholesterol Biosynthesis to Promote Methotrexate Resistance in Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplastic Cells

Metabolic reprogramming could promote cellular adaptation in response to chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer cells. Herein, we aimed to characterize the metabolomic profiles regulated by Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 (DPP4) in methotrexate (MTX)-resistant gestational trophoblastic neoplastic (GTN) cells. A total of eighty metabolites were found to be commonly altered in DPP4-depleted JAR/MTX and JEG3/MTX cells. Cholesterol biosynthesis-related metabolites were markedly impacted by DPP4 knockdown in MTX-resistant sublines. Manipulation of DPP4 expression remarkably affected the level of cellular cholesterol in GTN cells. Our analysis also identified 24-Dehydrocholesterol Reductase (DHCR24) as a potential downstream effector of DPP4. Manipulation of DHCR24 expression affected cellular cholesterol level, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and chemosensitivity to MTX in GTN cell models. In addition, over-expression of DHCR24 could markedly restore cellular cholesterol level and rescue cell survival in DPP4-depleted MTX-resistant GTN cells. Highly correlated expression of DPP4 and DHCR24 was observed in clinical GTN specimens. Further, DPP4 inhibitor sitagliptin effectively inhibited cholesterol biosynthesis, reduced DHCR24 expression and enhanced MTX-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, our findings suggested that DPP4 might regulate DHCR24-mediated cholesterol biosynthesis to promote methotrexate resistance in GTN cells. Targeting DPP4/DHCR24 signaling might help to sensitize MTX-resistant GTN to MTX treatment.

Activation of RSK2 upregulates SOX8 to promote methotrexate resistance in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

Resistance to chemotherapy is frequently driven by aberrantly activated kinases in cancer. Herein, we characterized the global phosphoproteomic alterations associated with methotrexate (MTX) resistance in gestational trophoblastic neoplastic (GTN) cells. A total of 1111 phosphosites on 713 proteins were significantly changed, with highly elevated Ribosomal S6 Kinase 2 (RSK2) phosphorylation (pS227) observed in MTX-resistant GTN cells. Activation of RSK2 promoted cell proliferation and survival after MTX treatment in GTN cell models. Interestingly, RSK2 might play an important role in the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, as manipulation of RSK2 activation affected ROS accumulation and SOX8 expression in GTN cells. In addition, overexpression of SOX8 partly rescued cell proliferation and survival in RSK2-depleted MTX-resistant GTN cells, suggesting that SOX8 might serve as a downstream effector of RSK2 to promote MTX resistance in GTN cells. Highly activated RSK2/SOX8 signaling was observed in MTX-resistant GTN specimens. Further, the RSK2 inhibitor BIX02565 effectively reduced SOX8 expression, induced ROS accumulation, and enhanced MTX-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our findings suggested that RSK2 activation could promote MTX resistance via upregulating SOX8 and attenuating MTX-induced ROS in GTN cells, which may help to develop experimental therapeutics to treat MTX-resistant GTN.

Application of next-generation sequencing to preimplantation genetic testing for recurrent hydatidiform mole patients

PURPOSE

To study the application of next-generation sequencing on preimplantation genetic testing for recurrent hydatidiform mole patients.

METHODS

A total of ten recurrent hydatidiform mole patients aged 27-34 years with a history of at least twice hydatidiform moles and no normal pregnancy were collected from 2019 to 2020. The diagnosis of hydatidiform mole type was clarified using short tandem repeat genotyping on products of conception, and whole-exome sequencing was applied for all patients and their partners. Seven recurrent hydatidiform mole patients with complete hydatidiform mole/partial hydatidiform mole type among previous hydatidiform mole tissues and no Pathogenetic/Likely pathogenetic/Uncertain significance variants in NLRP7/KHDC3L/MEI1/C11orf80 underwent a procedure of preimplantation genetic testing. Next-generation sequencing for analyzing the copy number variants and the numbers of heterozygous single nucleotide polymorphism was adopted to clarify the ploidy and parental origin of the embryo chromosomes in vitro. Embryos with biparental diploidy were selected for transfer.

RESULTS

Seven patients have undergone the procedure of preimplantation genetic testing, and twenty-three embryos were obtained, among which 82.6% (n = 19) were identified transferrable and 17.4% (n = 4) were identified aneuploid. Two patients have delivered healthy babies and another is currently in the second trimester after transfer.

CONCLUSION

Analyzing the copy number variants and the numbers of heterozygous single nucleotide polymorphism on the basis of next-generation sequencing can be utilized in the procedure of preimplantation genetic testing among part of recurrent hydatidiform mole patients. The current study is effective to reduce the occurrence of hydatidiform mole with improved clinical strategy, the advanced testing technology and analysis methods, as three of seven patients have conceived or delivered successfully.

Real-world data of 14 cases of brain metastases from gestational trophoblastic neoplasia and a literature review

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of patients with brain metastases from gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) in the real world.

METHODS

Analyzing the clinicopathological characteristics, treatment process, and prognosis of 14 GTN patients with brain metastases admitted to the West China Second University Hospital between January 2006 and December 2020.

RESULTS

The median FIGO prognostic score was 15 points (range 11-21 points), with 12 cases having 13 points or more (extremely high risk). All patients received combination chemotherapy. The first-line regimen included 5-Fluorouracil, dactinomycin, and intrathecal methotrexate (5-FU + KSM + intrathecal MTX), and etoposide + methotrexate + actinomycin D/cyclophosphamide and vincristine (EMA-CO). Two patients died during the early period after diagnosis of brain metastases. A further patient with GTN Stage III failed to achieve a negative serum β human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) after receiving chemotherapy in another hospital. Ten months after self-discontinuation of treatment, the disease progressed and she was admitted to our hospital with suspected liver and brain metastases, after which she abandoned treatment and was lost to follow-up. Among the remaining 11 patients, one relapsed once and two relapsed three times. Aside from the two patients who died and the one who was lost to follow-up, the remaining 11 patients had a median follow-up time of 89 months (range 35-148 months) and all achieved complete remission.

CONCLUSION

The overall survival rate of the patients in the present study was 78.57% through combination chemotherapy, symptomatic treatment, and co-treatment with brain radiotherapy for some patients. Enhancing the understanding of this disease and standardizing treatment are key to improving the overall survival rate of GTN patients with brain metastases.

Androgenetic/Biparental Mosaic/Chimeric Conceptions With a Molar Component: A Diagnostic and Clinical Challenge

Hydatidiform moles (HM) are gestational trophoblastic diseases which arise due to an imbalance in genetic material and which are morphologically characterized by enlarged and irregular chorionic villi and trophoblastic hyperplasia, among other features. The morphologic differential diagnosis for HM encompasses a number of entities including androgenetic/biparental mosaic/chimeric (ABMC) conceptions, an interesting duo of lesions with a nonmolar form (placental mesenchymal dysplasia) and a molar form (typically with a complete HM component). ABMC conceptions contain a mixture of 2 cell populations (1 androgenetic and 1 biparental) and arise as a result of mosaicism (mitotic error in a zygote) or chimerism (fusion of 2 zygotes). Because of their unique molecular underpinnings, these rare lesions show a number of findings including the presence of multiple villous populations, discordant p57 immunostaining, and mixed genotypes. ABMC conceptions are important to accurately diagnose as the molar form in particular carries a risk for persistent gestational trophoblastic diseases and thus requires appropriate treatment and follow-up. In this report, we provide detailed characterizations of 2 such cases of ABMC conceptions with a molar component. Both patients (ages 34 and 31) were in the first trimester of pregnancy and had ultrasound findings concerning for HM. Increased comprehension of the pathogenesis and morphology of ABMC conceptions, combined with ancillary techniques including p57 immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and molar genotyping, has allowed us to accurately and efficiently identify these lesions. However, a number of pitfalls exist which may lead to misdiagnosis.

Folinic acid rescue during methotrexate treatment for low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia - How much is just right?

OBJECTIVE

To compare the outcomes of patients with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) treated with 8-day methotrexate (MTX) with two different regimens of folinic acid (FA).

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of low-risk GTN followed at Rio de Janeiro Federal University, from January/2000-December/2019 with 8-day MTX with FA at 0.1 mg/kg versus 15 mg fixed dose.

RESULTS

Among 667 patients with low-risk GTN, 323 were treated with FA at 0.1 mg/kg and 142 with FA at 15 mg fixed dose. The weight-based and fixed dose groups were comparable in terms of clinical profile but did differ in the hCG pretreatment level (8883 versus 5127 IU/L, p < 0.01) and FIGO risk score 5/6 (3.4% versus 18.3%, p < 0.01), respectively. Despite this, there was no difference in the remission rate in first-line treatment (76.8 versus 81%, p = 0.33), although FA at 0.1 mg/kg had a significantly higher number of chemotherapy cycles to remission (5 versus 4, p < 0.01), need to delay chemotherapy due to toxicity (6.8 versus 2.8%, p < 0.01) and time to remission, (12 versus 8 weeks, p < 0.01), respectively. A logistic regression analysis showed that the different FA rescue regimens appeared comparable in terms of achieving remission in first-line chemotherapy for low-risk GTN (OR:5.16, CI95%:0.84-31.64, p = 0.08).

CONCLUSION

FA with 15 mg fixed dose as compared to 0.1 mg/kg of FA was associated with similar primary remission rate, relapse or death among low-risk GTN treated with 8-day MTX. This regimen is highly practical, reduces visits to health facilities, appears equally safe and may be preferable with the 8-day MTX regimen in the treatment of low-risk GTN.

Predictors of chemotherapy resistance & relapse in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

Background & objectives:

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is a chemosensitive malignancy with an excellent cure rate. The primary objective of the present study was to determine the predictors of chemoresistance and disease relapse, and the secondary objective was to appraise the WHO/FIGO risk scoring and course of disease in women with GTN.

Methods:

In this retrospective study, case records of women treated for GTN from January 2011 to June 2019 were reviewed. For the purpose of comparison, sub-stratification of FIGO/WHO low risk group (≤6) into low (0-4) and intermediate (5-6) risk was done. Similarly, WHO high risk (≥7) group was sub-stratified into high (7-12) and ultra-high risk (≥13) groups.

Results:

Case records of 116 patients were included: 51.7 per cent (60/116) were of low risk disease and 48.2 per cent (56/116) were of high risk disease. Chemoresistance developed in 28.4 per cent (33/116) and relapse in 10.3 per cent (12/116) cases. Risk of chemoresistance was higher in low risk (0-6) while risk of relapse was more in high risk (≥7) group. On sub-stratification, chemoresistance was more with intermediate [0-4: 28.5% (10/35), 5-6: 44% (11/25), 7-12: 22.5% (9/40), ≥13: 18.7% (3/16)] and relapse with ultra-high risk score [0-4: 5.7% (2/35), 5-6: 4% (1/25), 7-12:10% (4/40), ≥13: 31.2% (5/16)]. Age, myometrial invasion, serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin and tumour size were not related to chemoresistance or relapse.

Interpretation & conclusions:

WHO risk score and presence of metastatic disease predict the probability of developing chemotherapy resistance and disease relapse. Risk of chemotherapy resistance was higher in women with intermediate-risk score (5-6), and risk of relapse was more in those with ultra-high risk score (≥13).

Predictors for single-agent resistance in FIGO score 5 or 6 gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: a multicentre, retrospective, cohort study

BACKGROUND

Patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia who have an International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) risk score of 5 or 6 usually receive non-toxic single-agent chemotherapy as a first-line treatment. Previous studies suggest that only a third of patients have complete remission, with the remaining patients requiring toxic multiagent chemotherapy to attain remission. As stratification factors are unknown, some centres offer multiagent therapy upfront, resulting in overtreatment of many patients. We aimed to identify predictive factors for resistance to single-agent therapy to inform clinicians on which patients presenting with a FIGO score of 5 or 6 are likely to benefit from upfront multiagent chemotherapy.

METHODS

We did a multicentre, retrospective, cohort study of patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia presenting with a FIGO score of 5 or 6, who received treatment at three gestational trophoblastic neoplasia reference centres in the UK, Brazil, and the USA between Jan 1, 1964, and Dec 31, 2018. All patients who had been followed up for at least 12 months after remission were included. Patients were excluded if they had received a non-standard single-agent treatment (eg, etoposide); had been given a previously established first-line multiagent chemotherapy regimen; or had incomplete data for our analyses. Patient data were retrieved from medical records. The primary outcome was the incidence of chemoresistance after first-line or second-line single-agent chemotherapy. Variables associated with chemoresistance to single-agent therapies were identified by logistic regression analysis. In patient subgroups defined by choriocarcinoma histology and metastatic disease status, we did bootstrap modelling to define thresholds of pretreatment human chorionic gonadotropin concentrations and identify groups of patients with a greater than 80% risk (ie, a positive predictive value [PPV] of 0·8) of resistance to single-agent chemotherapy.

FINDINGS

Of 5025 patients with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, we identified 431 patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia presenting with a FIGO risk score of 5 or 6. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 2 years. 141 (40%) of 351 patients developed resistance to single-agent treatments and required multiagent chemotherapy to achieve remission. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression revealed metastatic disease status (multivariable logistic regression analysis, odds ratio [OR] 1·9 [95% CI 1·1-3·2], p=0·018), choriocarcinoma histology (3·7 [1·9-7·4], p=0·0002), and pretreatment human chorionic gonadotropin concentration (2·8 [1·9-4·1], p<0·0001) as significant predictors of resistance to single-agent therapies. In patients with no metastatic disease and without choriocarcinoma, a pretreatment human chorionic gonadotropin concentration of 411 000 IU/L or higher yielded a PPV of 0·8, whereas in patients with either metastases or choriocarcinoma, a pretreatment human chorionic gonadotropin concentration of 149 000 IU/L or higher yielded the same PPV for resistance to single-agent therapy.

INTERPRETATION

Approximately 60% of women with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia presenting with a FIGO risk score of 5 or 6 achieve remission with single-agent therapy; almost all remaining patients have complete remission with subsequent multiagent chemotherapy. Primary multiagent chemotherapy should only be given to patients with metastatic disease and choriocarcinoma, regardless of pretreatment human chorionic gonadotropin concentration, or to those defined by our new predictors.

FUNDING

None.

TRANSLATION

For the Portuguese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Emergency craniotomy in patient with intracranial metastatic choriocarcinoma: a case report

Choriocarcinoma is a highly malignant gynaecological tumour. This disease becomes life-threatening once brain haemorrhage or brain herniation occurs. Timely and accurate brain surgery can gain treatment time for patients that have a large number of cerebral haemorrhages and/or brain herniation. This current report describes a case of choriocarcinoma secondary to a hydatidiform mole in a 55-year-old woman that presented with neurological symptoms. Following admission to hospital, computed tomography examination found that lung and brain metastases were accompanied by cerebral haemorrhage. Cerebral hernia occurred during induction chemotherapy treatment and emergency surgery was performed. The patient recovered after individual chemotherapy and rehabilitation treatment. Patients with a very high risk of choriocarcinoma with brain metastasis should be referred to a comprehensive medical centre. Necessary surgical treatment and individualized chemotherapy can reduce the mortality of patients with choriocarcinoma brain metastasis.

Uterine Rescue in High-Risk Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia Treated with EMA-CO by Uterine Arteries Embolization due to Arteriovenous Malformations

Complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) is a rare type of pregnancy, in which 15 to 20% of the cases may develop into gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). The diagnostic of GTN must be done as early as possible through weekly surveillance of serum hCG after uterine evacuation. We report the case of 23-year-old primigravida, with CHM but without surveillance of hCG after uterine evacuation. Two months later, the patient presented to the emergency with vaginal bleeding and was referred to the Centro de Doenças Trofoblásticas do Hospital São Paulo. She was diagnosed with high risk GTN stage/score III:7 as per The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics/World Health Organization (FIGO/WHO). The sonographic examination revealed enlarged uterus with a heterogeneous mass constituted of multiple large vessels invading and causing disarrangement of the myometrium. The patient evolved with progressive worsening of vaginal bleeding after chemotherapy with etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide and vincristine (EMA-CO) regimen. She underwent blood transfusion and embolization of uterine arteries due to severe vaginal hemorrhage episodes, with complete control of bleeding. The hCG reached a negative value after the third cycle, and there was a complete regression of the anomalous vascularization of the uterus as well as full recovery of the uterine anatomy. The treatment in a reference center was essential for the appropriate management, especially regarding the uterine arteries embolization trough percutaneous femoral artery puncture, which was crucial to avoid the hysterectomy and allow GTN cure and maintenance of reproductive life.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Polypeptide Nanoparticle Drug Delivery System Improves Methotrexate Efficacy in Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia in vitro

Purpose

To alleviate the sufferings of the chemotherapy patients, we developed a novel active targeted therapeutic system and showed its potential as a promising drug delivery strategy.

Methods

We utilized the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) ligand-receptor mediation to make an actively targeted drug delivery system with optimal HCG polypeptide fragment as target head base, polyethylene glycol–polylactic acid copolymers as nanometer materials to load chemotherapy drug methotrexate (MTX), to highly selectively deliver MTX into choriocarcinoma lesions, and to investigate the efficacy, targeting and tolerability of the complex in vitro experiments.

Results

Our data show that choriocarcinoma cell lines JEG-3 and JAR exhibited high expression levels of HCG receptor, peptide HCGβ81-95 specifically bonded to HCG receptor-positive cells and HCG81-NP efficiently delivered MTX to choriocarcinoma cells. HCG81-NP-MTX inhibited cell proliferation and reduced G₀/G₁ to S phase transition in JEG-3 and JAR cells.

Conclusion

We designed an active targeting therapy system of choriocarcinoma, significantly improved chemotherapy efficacy in vitro, and provided a theoretical basis for the treatment of malignant trophoblastic tumors.

ABCB1 and SLCO1B1 gene polymorphisms predict methotrexate-resistant for low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the effects of ABCB1 and SLCO1B1 gene polymorphisms and the methotrexate (MTX) treatment response in patients with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). Materials & methods: Low-risk GTN patients who received MTX as a first-line single agent were enrolled. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples from 18 patients and assessed for ABCB1 C3435T and SLCO1B1 T521C. Results: ABCB1 C3435T and SLCO1B1 T521C polymorphisms were not associated with the MTX response or toxicity in Thai patients Conclusion: The selected ABCB1 and SLCO1B1 polymorphism do not predict the risk of MTX resistance in low-risk GTN.

Treatment of high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia and chemoresistance/relapsed disease

High-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) has an increased risk of developing chemoresistance to single-agent chemotherapy; therefore, the primary treatment should be a multiagent etoposide-based regimen, preferably EMA/CO. After remission (normalization of human chorionic gonadotropin - hCG), at least three consolidation courses of EMA-CO are needed to reduce the risk of relapse. Chemoresistance is diagnosed during treatment if hCG levels plateau/increase, in two consecutive values over a two-week period. When this occurs after remission, in the absence of a new pregnancy, there is a relapse. In both cases, after re-assessment of the extent of disease, EMA-EP is the most common chemotherapy choice. Even in these cases, remission rates are high. After remission is achieved, hCG should be measured monthly for a year. Pregnancy can be allowed after 12 months from remission. The follow-up of these patients in referral centers minimizes the chance of death from this disease and should be encouraged.

Obstetrics outcomes after complete and partial molar pregnancy: Review of the literature and meta-analysis

The hydatidiform mole is a rare gynecological disease rising from the trophoblastic. Post-molar pregnancies have an extremely variable course, varying from repeated abortions, stillbirths, preterm births, live births, or recurring in further molar pregnancies. Literature on obstetric outcomes following molar pregnancy is poor, often including monocentric studies, and with data collected from national databases. This review and meta-analysis aim to analyze the obstetric outcomes after conservative management of complete (CHM) and partial (PHM) molar pregnancies. The meta-analysis was performed following the Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) and the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statement (PRISMA). Six studies met the inclusion. Of the total 25,222 patients, 13,129 complete (52.1 %) and 12,093 partial (47.9 %) molar pregnancies were included. Live births rate after CHM was statistically higher (p = 0.002) compared to the live births after PHM (53.6 % vs. 51.0 %, 3266 vs. 1807 cases, respectively). Studies showed heterogeneity I² = 57.7 %, pooled proportion = 0.2 %, and 95 % Confidence Interval (CI) 0.6 to 0.9. No statistically significant difference was demonstrated for ectopic pregnancies (p = 0.633), miscarriage (p = 0.637), preterm birth (p = 0.865), stillbirth (p = 0.911), termination of pregnancy (p = 0.572), and complete molar recurrence (p = 0.580) after CHM and PHM. Partial molar recurrence occurred more frequently after PHM than CHM (0.4 % vs. 0.3 %, 52 vs. 37 cases, respectively, p = 0.002). Careful counseling on the obstetric subsequent pregnancies outcomes should be provided to patients eager for further pregnancy and further studies are needed to confirm these results.

An invasive mole with pulmonary metastases in a 55-year-old postmenopausal Syrian woman: a case report and review of the literature

Background

Invasive mole is a subtype of gestational trophoblastic neoplasms (GTNs) that usually develops from the malignant transformation of trophoblastic tissue after molar evacuation. Invasive moles mostly occur in women of reproductive age, while they are extremely rare in postmenopausal women.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 55-year-old postmenopausal Syrian woman who was admitted to the emergency department at our hospital due to massive vaginal bleeding for 10 days accompanied by constant abdominal pain with diarrhea and vomiting. Following clinical, laboratory and radiological examination, total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. Histologic examination of the resected specimens revealed the diagnosis of an invasive mole with pulmonary metastases that were diagnosed by chest computed tomography (CT). Following surgical resection, the patient was scheduled for combination chemotherapy. However, 2 weeks later the patient was readmitted to the emergency department due to severe hemoptysis and dyspnea, and later that day the patient died in spite of resuscitation efforts.

Conclusion

Although invasive moles in postmenopausal women have been reported previously, we believe our case is the first reported from Syria. Our case highlights the difficulties in diagnosing invasive moles in the absence of significant history of gestational trophoblastic diseases. The present study further reviews the diagnostic methods, histological characteristics and treatment recommendations.

[Persistent gestational trophoblastic disease following ectopic molar pregnancy]

A case of persistent gestational trophoblastic disease that developed after ectopic (cervical) pregnancy with complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) in a 56-year-old patient is presented. The diagnosis of CHM was made retrospectively based on immunohistochemical analysis of archival material using p57 and Ki67 antibodies. Observation shows the difficulty of objective diagnosis of hydatidiform mole in early pregnancy due to the lack of typical cystic transformation of the stroma of villi, focal proliferation of villous trophoblast. Application of the p57 marker for the differential diagnosis of CHM and other variants of cystic villi transformation may be especially important in cases of ectopic pregnancy, in which morphological changes in the chorion do not always correspond to the classical picture. The presence of ectopic pregnancy with CHM in a 56-year-old patient requires special attention of clinicians.

Age and racial differences in the presentation of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

OBJECTIVE

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia are a group of diseases with few data given their rarity. The aim of this study was to determine the age and racial differences in the presentation and survival of patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia in the United States.

METHODS

Data were collected from the National Cancer Database from January 2004 to December 2014. Chi-square tests, Cox regression, and Kaplan-Meier models were performed. Demographic characteristics included age at diagnosis, race, insurance status, facility location and type, community median income, high school dropout rate, education, income, and population density data.

RESULTS

There were 1004 eligible patients including 64% white (n=645), 23% black (n=233), and 8.3% Asian patients (n=83). Median age was 30.8 (range 14-59) years. Stage I, II, III, IV, and unknown were diagnosed in 32%, 5.4%, 30%, 18%, and 15% of patients, respectively, with 5-year survival of 99%, 93%, 94%, 72%, and 95%, respectively (p<0.001). Compared with national birth rates, those with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia were overrepresented at younger (age 10-19 years: 8.2% vs 4.8%) and older ages (age 40-54 years: 17% vs 3.3%). The extremes of age at presentation were more pronounced in black patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (age 10-19 years: 11% vs 6.9%, 40-54 years: 18% vs 3.2%), and black patients constituted 23% of patients compared with 15% of births nationwide. Some 59% of patients were treated at Academic/Research Programs. Only 6/448 (1.3%) facilities treated more than one patient per year, and only 9% (n=92) of patients were treated at one of these high-volume facilities. On multivariable analysis, older age, higher Charlson/Deyo co-morbidity score, and higher stage disease were independently associated with worse survival (all p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia was disproportionately higher in those at extremes of age and in black women as compared with United States national data. The lack of centralization of care justifies the need to develop regional centers of excellence for this rare malignancy.

Early Detection of Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia Based on Serial Measurement of Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin Hormone in Women with Molar Pregnancy

Background:

The majority of studies which investigate the predicted power of Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels to the occurrence of Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) considered the effect of a single measurement of hCG or used classical statistical methods without considering the endogenous marker. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between weekly measurements of β-hCG with time to GTN occurring, using a robust Bayesian joint modeling.

Methods:

Data of 201 women with a molar pregnancy were considered for this retrospective cohort study. After the first measurement of β-hCG in 48 hours post evacuation of mole, the other titration was performed on a weekly basis until three consecutive normal titers. The association between serial measurements of β-hCG and risk of GTN occurring were assessed by the classic and Bayesian joint modeling and in separate analysis the mixed linear effect and Cox-PH model were used.

Results:

The mean age (SD) of participants was 26.6 (6.55) year. The GTN was occurred among 14.9% of patients. The association parameter using Bayesian approach was estimated as 1.30 (95% CI: 0.44 to 2.20) which showed one unit increase in the log β-hCG corresponds to the 2.80-times increase in the hazard for the occurrence of GTN (Hazard Ratio: 2.80, 95% CI: 1.55 to 8.98).

Conclusions:

Findings of this study revealed that weekly measurements of β-hCG are an important and reliable biomarker to early detection of developing of molar pregnancy to persistent GTN.

Primary rectal choriocarcinoma associated with rectal adenocarcinoma in a woman with a history of ulcerative colitis: Case report

•

Gestational Throphoblastic Neoplasms (GTN) includes a spectrum of pregnancy-related disorders of either benign or malignant.

•

Gestational choriocarcinoma in a patient with a previous history of IBD could have occurred in three different scenarios.

•

Dedifferentiation is the most accepted mechanism introduced to explain development of primary choriocarcinoma of colorectal origin.

•

Surgical resection with lymph node dissection is the standard of treatment.

•

Colorectal choriocarcinoma is considered pathologically similar to choriocacinoma of GTN, thus chemotherapeutic regimens are the same.

Introduction

Primary rectal choriocarcinoma is an extremely rare malignancy. The association of these neoplasms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been reported.

Presentation of case

A 34-year-old female with history of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) gave birth to a male fetus. She had postpartum bleeding and high level of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (βhCG) was detected. Although initial investigations failed to confirm molar pregnancy, abnormal uterine bleeding and high βhCG level necessitate chemotherapy administration. She did not respond to chemotherapy sessions accordingly. Meanwhile, the patient experienced rectorrhagia and colonoscopy revealed a firm submucosal polypoid lesion 8–10 cm from the anal verge. The multidisciplinary team candidate the patient for total proctocolectomy and ileal pouch anal anastomosis. Although postoperative course was uneventful and βhCG level dropped but it showed a rising pattern in follow ups. Chemotherapy was planned but there was not suitable response. Unfortunately, the patient passed away 20 months after the initial diagnosis.

Discussion

Pathology report indicated the coexistence of moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma and choriocarcinoma. We assume previous history of UC might have put her at higher susceptibility to develop carcinoma and this poorly differentiated carcinoma has led to choriocarcinoma. Considering the fact that in most cases of colorectal choriocarcinoma, choriocarcinomatous differentiation was found alongside colonic adenocarcinoma made dedifferentiation theory to be the most acceptable explanation.

Conclusion

The adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum in the setting of IBD may become so dedifferentiated that gain some characteristics of germ cell tumors.

Placental site trophoblastic tumour: the rarest subtype of gestational trophoblastic disease

Placental site trophoblastic tumour (PSTT) is a very rare form of gestational trophoblastic disease that grows slowly, secretes low levels of beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), presents late-onset metastatic potential and is resistant to several chemotherapy regimens. Here, we report a case of PSTT in a 36-year-old woman who presented with amenorrhea and persistently elevated serum level of β-hCG after a miscarriage. Transvaginal ultrasound revealed a hypovascular ill-defined solid lesion of the uterine fundus and MRI showed a tumour infiltrating the external myometrium with discrete early enhancement and signal restriction on diffusion-weighted imaging. PSTT was suspected, and after endometrial biopsy by hysteroscopy and posterior hysterectomy, microscopic examination allowed the final diagnosis. The level of β-hCG dropped significantly in about a month after surgical treatment. Due to the rarity of PSTT, reporting new cases is crucial to improve the diagnosis and managing of these patients.

Pulmonary deportation of hydatidiform mole: a 12-year, single tertiary center experience in China

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary deportation of hydatidiform mole is an exceedingly rare entity. The underlying mechanisms and proper management strategies remain unclear based on sporadic case reports over the past six decades. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and rational treatment of patients with benign molar pregnancies with pulmonary deportation based on our experience.

METHODS

Medical records of 20 cases of hydatidiform mole with pulmonary deportation were retrospectively reviewed at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from November 2006 to May 2019. The detailed information of all patients was recorded and analyzed. Patients were divided into different groups according to their characteristics and Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the duration to achieve a normal β-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG) level after the first evacuation among groups.

RESULTS

Initial pulmonary computed tomography scans showed suspected bilateral, left and right chest deportation of hydatidiform mole in 12, four, and four patients, respectively, with the maximum nodular diameter ranging from 0.6 to 1.2 cm. Ten patients achieved lesion resolution while the remaining ten patients achieved decreases in the size of their pulmonary lesions. The median duration to achieve a normal β-hCG level after the first evacuation was 15.5 (13.0, 21.9) weeks. There was no significant difference in the duration to achieve a normal β-hCG level after the first evacuation between two groups based on age (≥40 years vs. < 40 years: 15.8 [12.2, 21.5] weeks vs. 15.5 [12.9, 23.0] weeks, Z = 0.094, P = 0.925), type of antecedent mole (partial mole vs. complete mole: 15.2 [12.5, 27.4] weeks vs. 15.9 [12.9, 21.5] weeks, Z = 0.165, P = 0.869), distribution of pulmonary nodules (bilateral lungs vs. unilateral lung: 15.2 [12.8, 22.5] weeks vs. 15.9 [13.2, 22.2] weeks, Z = 0.386, P = 0.700), maximum size of pulmonary nodules (>0.5 cm vs. ≤0.5 cm: 13.0 [11.3, 17.2] weeks vs. 16.0 [14.5, 23.8] weeks, Z = 1.815, P = 0.070), and number of uterine evacuations (once vs. twice or three times: 15.0 [13.0, 16.3] weeks vs. 16.0 [12.8, 23.9] weeks, Z = 0.832, P = 0.405). The post-molar cohort was followed up for 17 to 139 months, and no gestational trophoblastic neoplasia was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

No surgeries other than uterine evacuation and no chemotherapy regimens are recommended for such patients if they achieve satisfactory decreases in the level of hCG and gradual decrease or disappearance of pulmonary deportation nodules. Patients should be informed about the necessity of long-term follow-up. More collaborative international studies on this exceedingly rare condition may guide decisions regarding optimal management strategies.

Diagnosis and outcome of hydatidiform moles in missed-miscarriage: a cohort-study, systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the ultrasound diagnostic rates of complete hydatidiform moles (CHM) and partial hydatidiform moles (PHM) in women presenting with a missed miscarriage, the clinical complications at diagnosis and the risk of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) after surgical evacuation and to compare our findings with those of the published literature by completing a systematic review and meta-analysis STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of the data of 295 women diagnosed with a histologically confirmed hydatidiform moles (HM) over a 15-year period, including 128 CHM and 167 PHM. All women were referred to a regional specialist centre for follow-up and further management. An electronic search of PubMed, Google Scholar and MEDLINE was performed for studies published between September 1973 and September 2017 reporting on the early ultrasound diagnosis of hydatidiform mole. Only cohort studies which provided ultrasound data confirmed by histopathology were included.

RESULTS

In the cohort study, ultrasound imaging diagnosed a significantly (p < 0.001) higher number of CHM (95/128 (74.2%) than PHM (68/167 (40.7%). Ovarian theca lutea cysts were observed in three CHM and one PHM. There were no cases of pre-eclampsia or thyrotoxicosis at the time of diagnosis. Maternal serum β-human chorionic gonadotrophin levels were abnormally low (< 0.5 MoM) in 5/51 (10%) CHM and 23/43 (53%) PHM and abnormally high (> 2.0 MoM) in 20/51 (39%) CHM and 2/43 (5%) PHM. Seventeen (12.3%) CHM and two (1.4%) PHM developed a GTN requiring treatment. In the literature the proportion of histologically diagnosed HM, suspected on ultrasound in early pregnancy, ranged between 34.2 and 90.2% for HM, 57.8 and 95% for CHM and 17.6 and 51.6% for PHM. The meta-analysis indicated substantial heterogeneity in the overall ultrasound diagnosis of HM and in the differential diagnosis between CHM and PHM.

CONCLUSION(S)

As around a third of CHM and two thirds of PHM are not diagnosed on ultrasound in cases of missed miscarriage, histopathological examination of all products of conception in case of early pregnancy failure is essential to detect molar changes. This is particularly important for the management of women with CHM who have a higher risk of developing a GTN.

Quantitative Proteomic Profiling Identifies SOX8 as Novel Regulator of Drug Resistance in Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia

The development of drug resistance remains one of the major challenges to current chemotherapeutic regimens in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). Further understanding on the mechanisms of drug resistance would help to develop more effective therapy to treat GTN. Herein, tandem mass tag-based (TMT) quantitative proteomic technique was used to establish drug resistance-related proteomic profiles in chemoresistant GTN cell models (JEG3/MTX, JEG3/VP16, JEG3/5-Fu). In total, we identified 5,704 protein groups, among which 4,997 proteins were quantified in JEG3 and its chemoresistant sublines. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that multiple biological processes/molecular pathways/signaling networks were involved in the regulation of drug resistance in chemoresistant JEG3 sublines. SOX8 was upregulated in all the three chemoresistant sublines, and its function was further investigated. Knockdown of SOX8 significantly reduced cell viability, impaired soft agar clonogenesis, and increased caspase-3 activities after drug treatment in JEG3 chemoresistant sublines. In addition, over-expression of SOX8 promoted cell survival, enhanced soft agar clonogenesis, and attenuated caspase-3 activities after drug treatment in GTN cells. Importantly, SOX8 might be a potential regulator of reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, as SOX8 regulated the expression of antioxidant enzymes (GPX1, HMOX1) and reduced drug-induced ROS accumulation in GTN cell models. Collectively, SOX8 might promote drug resistance through attenuating the accumulation of ROS induced by chemotherapeutic drugs in GTN cells. Targeting SOX8 might be useful to sensitize GTN cells to chemotherapy.