Floxuridine-containing regimens in the treatment of gestational trophoblastic tumor.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the efficacy of floxuridine (FUDR)-containing regimens in the treatment of gestational trophoblastic tumor (GTT).

METHODS

Seventy-four patients with GTT, 47 with invasive mole and 27 with choriocarcinoma were treated with FUDR-containing regimens. Clinical staging of the disease was: 33 cases of stage I, 3 cases of stage II, 31 cases of stage IIIa, 6 cases of stage IIIb and 1 case of stage IV.

RESULTS

The complete response rate of FUDR-containing regimens in the treatment of GTT was 91.9% (68 of 74 cases). Six patients, of whom 3 showed signs of drug resistance and 3 showed myelosuppression, had their regimens changed to non-FUDR-containing regimens, and all achieved a complete response. All 7 patients with advanced disease (>IIIb) achieved a complete response. The major adverse event with FUDR-containing regimens was myelosuppression and gastrointestinal toxicity: third- and fourth-degree neutropenia in 26% and thrombocytopenia in 6.2%, third-degree vomiting in 57.1% and third-degree diarrhea in 4.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

FUDR-containing regimens are efficient for the treatment of GTT even for patients with advanced or drug-resistant disease.