Georg-Peter Breitbach1, Panagiotis Sklavounos2, Christian Veith3, Serban-Dan Costa4, Walther Kuhn5, Erich-Franz Solomayer2, Ingolf Juhasz-Boess2, Clemens Tempfer6. 1. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Saarland University, Kirrbergerstraße 100, 66424, Homburg, Saarland, Germany. gp.breitbach@gmx.de. 2. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Saarland University, Kirrbergerstraße 100, 66424, Homburg, Saarland, Germany. 3. Department of Pathology, Saarland University, Homburg, Saarland, Germany. 4. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany. 5. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Donauisar Klinikum Deggendorf, Deggendorf, Germany. 6. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ruhr University Bochum, Herne, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Choriocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare form of malignant trophoblastic disease. Systemic polychemotherapy with etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine (EMA/CO) is the mainstay of treatment for metastatic disease. Due to the rarity of the condition, however, the evidence basis for this management is small and other chemotherapy regimens may also be effective. The reported case presents anecdotal evidence of an effective etoposide monotherapy treatment. METHOD: CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a patient with gestational choriocarcinoma and pulmonary metastases initially treated with methotrexate. Due to local disease progression, she underwent hysterectomy and continued treatment with methotrexate. After pulmonary progression, she was switched to oral etoposide. RESULTS: After four cycles of etoposide monotherapy at a oral dosage of 100 mg d1-7, q28, the patient had no evidence of disease according to human chorionic gonadotropin serum levels and imaging studies. The treatment was well tolerated with World Health Organization (WHO) grade 2 alopecia and hot flushes as the most prominent side effects. The patient has achieved a sustained complete remission with a follow-up of 6 years. CONCLUSION: Oral etoposide may be an effective treatment alternative to EMA/CO in selected patients with oligometastatic CCA.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Choriocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare form of malignant trophoblastic disease. Systemic polychemotherapy with etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine (EMA/CO) is the mainstay of treatment for metastatic disease. Due to the rarity of the condition, however, the evidence basis for this management is small and other chemotherapy regimens may also be effective. The reported case presents anecdotal evidence of an effective etoposide monotherapy treatment. METHOD: CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a patient with gestational choriocarcinoma and pulmonary metastases initially treated with methotrexate. Due to local disease progression, she underwent hysterectomy and continued treatment with methotrexate. After pulmonary progression, she was switched to oral etoposide. RESULTS: After four cycles of etoposide monotherapy at a oral dosage of 100 mg d1-7, q28, the patient had no evidence of disease according to human chorionic gonadotropin serum levels and imaging studies. The treatment was well tolerated with World Health Organization (WHO) grade 2 alopecia and hot flushes as the most prominent side effects. The patient has achieved a sustained complete remission with a follow-up of 6 years. CONCLUSION: Oral etoposide may be an effective treatment alternative to EMA/CO in selected patients with oligometastatic CCA.