Successful salvage of relapsed high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia patients using a novel paclitaxel-containing doublet

OBJECTIVE: To describe one institution's results with a novel 3-drug doublet, consisting of paclitaxel, etoposide and cisplatin, for salvage of relapsed high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) patients. STUDY DESIGN: Analysis of treatment results with the doublet regimen in two patients with recurrent/persistent high-risk choriocarcinoma in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre, University of Toronto. Both patients had been treated previously with one or more of the doublet drugs. RESULTS: Both patients experienced complete responses, patient 1 for 13 months and patient 2 for 9. Patient 1 required surgical resection of a single focus of recurrence and was again in complete remission 27 months after completing her last course of doublet chemotherapy. Patient 2 has not relapsed since completing the treatment. CONCLUSION: The doublet regimen appears capable of producing a sustained response in patients with recurrent high-risk GTN who have previously undergone extensive chemotherapy. Further, the regimen seems to be reasonably well tolerated.