Chemo for Choriocarcinoma

Gestational trophoblastic disease comprises a spectrum of interrelated conditions originating from the placenta and includes teh msot agressive type, choriocarcinoma. Histologically distinct disease entities encompassed by this general terminology include complete and partial hydatidiform moles, invasive moles, gestational choriocarcinomas, and placental site trophoblastic tumors. Before the advent of sensitive assays for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and efficacious chemotherapy, the morbidity and mortality from gestational trophoblastic disease were substantial. In agressive high-risk cases, aggressive multiagent chemotherapy and individualized multimodality therapy is warranted . At present, treatment with single-agent methotrexate or actinomycin D is recommended for low-risk disease, while intense combination regimens including EMACO (etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclosphosphamide and oncovin) are recommended for intermediate or high-risk disease.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). The management of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. London (UK): Royal College of Obstetricians and Gyneacologists (RCOG); 2004 Feb. 7 p. (Guideline; no. 38). [16 references]

Kufe D (2000). Benedict RC, Holland JF. ed. Cancer medicine (5th ed. ed.). Hamilton, Ont: B.C. Decker. ISBN 1-55009-113-1.

^Rustin GJ, Newlands ES, Begent RH, Dent J, Bagshawe KD (1989). "Weekly alternating etoposide, methotrexate, and actinomycin/vincristine and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy for the treatment of CNS metastases of choriocarcinoma". J. Clin. Oncol. 7 (7): 900–3.