The 16-year experience in treating low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia patients with failed primary methotrexate chemotherapy / 부인종양

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To assess the outcomes and toxic effects of 5-day actinomycin D (Act-D) salvage therapy and to explore the predictors of Act-D resistance in patients with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN)who failed 5-day methotrexate (MTX) chemotherapy. @*Methods@#This retrospective study analyzed patients with low-risk GTN administered Act-D salvage therapy after failing MTX chemotherapy at Women's Hospital, School of Medicine Zhejiang University between January 2000 and December 2015. The clinical parameters of these patients were collected and analyzed. @*Results@#The final analysis included 89 cases. Of these, 73 cases (82.02%) responded to salvage Act-D. The remaining 16 resistant cases were switched to etoposide, MTX, Act-D/ cyclophosphamide, and vincristine chemotherapy and achieved complete remission. Serum human chorionic gonadotrophin levels before Act-D salvage therapy (hCG Act-D )in the Act-Dresistant cases were significantly higher than those in the Act-D responders (median 605 vs.103 IU/L, p=0.009). However, the range of hCGAct-D values in Act-D responders was wider than that in Act-D-resistant cases (5.76–16,664 IU/L vs. 11.43–6,732 IU/L). Thus, assigning a general cut-off value was difficult considering the individual setting. Except for 2 cases requiring other salvage regimens due to Act-D toxicity, 97.80% of cases (89/91) tolerated the toxicity. During at least 1-year follow-up, the survival rate was 100.00% and no case developed recurrence. @*Conclusion@#Based on the good therapeutic effect and tolerable toxicity, we recommend Act-D salvage therapy for all patients with low-risk GTN who fail primary MTX chemotherapy.The higher serum hCG levels before Act-D salvage therapy may be associated with resistance to this treatment.