The following lists the standard treatment options according to the type of GTD and the stage and prognostic group of the disease. These treatments are discussed in more detail in separate sections about surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Hydatidiform moles (complete and partial moles)

The standard treatment for women who may wish to have children in the future is to remove the tumor by suction dilation and curettage (D&C). Women who no longer wish to have children usually have the option of choosing either suction D&C or hysterectomy (removal of the tumor and entire uterus). A hysterectomy, like a suction D&C, ensures no tumor remains within the uterus but it does not treat tumor cells that may have already spread outside the uterus.

Rarely, a hydatidiform mole occurs as part of a "twin" pregnancy, where there is a normal fetus along with the mole. In this case, the pregnancy is watched closely and typically allowed to continue. The mole is then treated after delivery.

Once the tumor is removed, a pathologist will look at it under a microscope for signs of choriocarcinoma or other malignant changes in the specimen. If there are none, then patients are carefully monitored with frequent measurements of blood HCG levels. The levels should drop and become undetectable within several months. If not, there may still be mole tissue deep in the uterus (an invasive mole) or elsewhere in the body.

Doctors recommend that women avoid becoming pregnant during the first year after diagnosis because pregnancy would raise HCG levels. Oral contraceptives may be used, but intrauterine devices (IUDs) should not be used at this time because of the risk of bleeding, infection, or other problems. Sometimes IUDs can cause problems that can look like tumor left in the uterus.

Chemotherapy will likely be needed if the blood HCG level begins to rise or is still detectable after a reasonable time (often around 4 to 6 months), or if the pathologist finds choriocarcinoma in the tissue sample. About 1 in 5 women will need chemotherapy after a molar pregnancy.

Stage I low-risk gestational trophoblastic tumors

This can be either persistent GTD (where the HCG level hasn't dropped to normal after treatment of a molar pregnancy) or a choriocarcinoma or placental site trophoblastic tumor that was found in the curettage specimen. The tumor is still confined to the uterus, and the prognostic score is 7 or less.

Chemotherapy with either methotrexate (with or without leucovorin) or actinomycin-D is the recommended treatment for persistent moles and choriocarcinoma. Hysterectomy may also be advised, particularly for women who no longer want to have babies. It may reduce the amount of chemotherapy needed.

Chemotherapy is given until there are no longer any signs of cancer, based on levels of HCG in the blood. If the initial chemotherapy drug does not get rid of the tumor, a second drug may be tried. If the HCG level is still detectable at this point, more intensive chemotherapy with a combination of drugs may be needed.

Placental-site trophoblastic tumor is treated with hysterectomy. Chemotherapy is usually not helpful.

Stage II/lII low-risk gestational trophoblastic tumors

These tumors have spread to the genital structures or to the lungs, but the prognostic score is 7 or less. Chemotherapy with either methotrexate (with or without leucovorin) or actinomycin-D is curative in most cases. If a single drug does not get rid of the tumor, treatment with combination chemotherapy is usually effective. In rare cases, surgical removal of the tumors plus chemotherapy may be used. Blood HCG levels are measured after treatment and should return to normal.

Stage II/III high-risk gestational trophoblastic tumors

These tumors have spread to the genital structures or to the lungs, and the prognostic score is 8 or higher. Standard treatment is usually an intensive combination chemotherapy regimen such as EMA-CO. Other drug combinations, such as EMA-EP, may also be used, although they may be reserved for use if the EMA-CO regimen isn't effective. In rare cases, surgical removal of the tumors plus chemotherapy may be used. Blood HCG levels are measured after treatment and should return to normal.

Stage IV gestational trophoblastic tumors

These tumors have spread to distant sites such as the liver or brain. Intensive treatment is needed for these tumors. Combination chemotherapy such as the EMA-CO regimen is the standard treatment. If the cancer has reached the brain, radiation therapy to the head is often used as well. In some cases, surgical removal of tumors may be used along with chemotherapy. Again, blood HCG levels are measured after treatment and should return to normal.

Recurrent gestational trophoblastic tumors

A tumor is called recurrent when it come backs after treatment. Recurrence can be local (in or near the same place it started) or distant (spread to organs such as the lungs or bone). The type of treatment used depends on where the cancer recurs and what the woman has already received.

For tumors that were first treated with surgery, single-drug chemotherapy may be used, unless a new risk factor puts the patient at high risk (in which case combination chemotherapy would be used). In women who have already had chemotherapy, a more intensive chemotherapy regimen would be used. Several different combinations of drugs might be tried, if needed. Again, if the cancer has reached the brain, radiation therapy to the head is often used. In some cases, surgical removal of tumors may be used as well.

Cure rates for GTD

Nearly 100% of women with complete or partial moles and low-risk GTD can be cured of their disease with appropriate treatment. While PSTT has high cure rates, the outlook isn't as good if the disease spreads outside of the uterus. Even for high-risk GTD, cure rates are as high as 80% to 90%, but they will likely require more intensive treatment (combination chemotherapy, sometimes together with radiation and/or surgery).

Last Medical Review: 10/13/2009
Last Revised: 10/13/2009