Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
Gestational trophoblastic disease is an aggressive cancer in the uterus that develops after conception. Gestational trophoblastic tumors are rare and require a multimodality approach for successful treatment. With current therapies, trophoblastic tumors are now nearly universally curable.
The John I. Brewer Trophoblastic Disease Center, established in 1962, studies and treats gestational trophoblastic diseases. The center serves as a treatment facility for patients with trophoblastic diseases, a consultation service for physicians and patients, and a clinical and laboratory research unit. More than 6,000 patients have been referred to the Brewer Center from 42 states and 7 foreign countries, including approximately 700 who have received treatment for trophoblastic tumors at the center.
Chemotherapy is the main form of therapy. Irradiation is given to patients with brain metastasis. Surgical procedures, especially hysterectomy and thoracotomy, are used in selected patients in chemotherapy-resistant disease. The overall cure rate now exceeds 95 percent: 100 percent for patients without evidence of metastasis and 85-90 percent for patients with metastatic disease.
The successful treatment of gestational trophoblastic diseases with chemotherapy has resulted in an increasing number of women who have retained the potential to reproduce. A large number of successful pregnancies has occurred in this group of patients. In general, they experience no increase in miscarriages, stillbirths, congenital anomalies, prematurity, or major obstetrical complications. Patients have approximately a one percent risk of another trophoblastic disease episode in a subsequent pregnancy. Therefore, patients who do become pregnant again should have an ultrasound early in pregnancy to document a normal pregnancy.
Research conducted at the center has resulted in publication of more than 100 articles in scientific journals and books.
Gestational trophoblastic tumors are rare and require a multimodality approach forsuccessful treatment. With current therapies, trophoblastic tumors are now nearly universally curable. Almost all patients treated primarily at the Brewer Trophoblastic Disease Center since 1981 have been cured.
Contact
For information about Gestational Trophoblastic treatment, (312) 926-7365.
