title: Primary oral etoposide therapy in gestational trophoblastic disease. An update.
abstract: Sixty patients who developed persistent or metastatic gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) received primary oral etoposide therapy (VP 16-213). Twelve patients had metastatic GTD. Fifty-nine patients achieved biochemical remission. One patient had marked nausea and vomiting and the therapy was switched to a methotrexate/folinic acid regimen. Three patients developed relapse of GTD, giving a relapse rate of 5.1%. Etoposide is an active drug against choriocarcinoma. Its use should not be restricted to drug-resistant GTD.
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005047:Etoposide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole / Q000188:drug therapy; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D011034:Podophyllotoxin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012306:Risk; D014328:Trophoblastic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014625:Vaginal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D005047:Etoposide; D011034:Podophyllotoxin