According to a story from Newswise, an organization called the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has recently released treatment guidelines for a rare type of cancer that can affect women during pregnancy. This cancer is called gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. These are the first guidelines ever released for this type of rare cancer in the US.
About Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia (GTN)
Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN), which is also called gestational trophoblastic disease, is a tumor that affects a type of cell called trophoblasts. These cells comprise the tissue that, under normal, circumstances, would form the placenta during the pregnancy. There are several different types of GTN, but they are rarely malignant. Risk factors for the disease include the woman being under 20 years old or over age 35, prior history of GTN, and being of Asian ethnicity, as the cancer appears more frequently in Asian countries. Treatment for GTN often includes the evacuation of the pregnancy. For invasive types, chemotherapy agents such as dactinomycin and methotrextrate are commonly used. Radiation is also used if the cancer has spread, but this is unlikely in most cases. Follow up is also necessary after treatment has concluded. To learn more about GTN, click here.
Official Treatment Standards
There is a significant need for these guidelines in order to streamline the treatment process for patients and ensure the best possible outcomes. GTN is generally not a life threatening tumor and can often be completely cured, but the consequences of inadequate care can be severe.
The guidelines outline treatment approaches for a variety of different types of GTN. For a “molar pregnancy” a tumor that is not malignant, treatment is typically surgery or evacuation of the pregnancy. After this, no other treatment is necessary. For low risk GTN that could have malignant potential, the first line treatment is single agent chemotherapy, but a more robust chemo regimen and surgery is recommended if the disease does not respond initially. For the highest risk cases, multi-agent chemo is the suggested standard treatment. GTN, when metastatic, often spreads to the brain, and in such cases radiation is recommended. Surgery is also an option when GTN is resistant to chemo.
With the release of these guidelines, caregivers now have options to help them determine the best approach for treating GTN.
You can learn more about the NCCN here.
