title: Gestational trophoblastic disease: what have we learned in the past decade?
abstract: Hydatidiform moles can be classified into two distinct entities: complete and partial. Complete moles are androgenetically derived, are characterized by a predominance of the 46,XX karyotype, and are associated with a significantly higher incidence of malignant sequelae than are partial moles. A subset of complete moles resulting from dispermy are heterozygous (46,XY) and appear to be associated with the greatest risk of malignancy. Free subunits of human chorionic gonadotropin, beta core fragments, and acidic variants of human chorionic gonadotropin can now be readily measured by radioimmunoassays, fluoroimmunoassays, or isoelectric focusing techniques. Determination of these markers can be of value not only in monitoring response to therapy, but also as prognostic indicators. A subgroup of patients, traditionally classified as "high risk" or poor prognosis, who show poor responses to conventional combination chemotherapy have recently been designated as "ultra-high-risk" patients. They require more complex chemotherapy and possibly surgery and radiotherapy to achieve remission. The development of chemotherapy over the past decade, including the introduction of etoposide and cisplatin into current protocols and the treatment of patients with advanced gestational trophoblastic disease, are considered in this review.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000032:analysis; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D007621:Karyotyping; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014328:Trophoblastic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin