National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
U.S. National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute
Phase III Randomized Study of Methotrexate Versus Dactinomycin in Patients With Low-Risk Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia
Last Modified: 6/11/2008     First Published: 2/1/1999  

Alternate Title
Basic Trial Information
Objectives
Entry Criteria
Expected Enrollment
Outcomes
Outline
Trial Contact Information
Registry Information

Alternate Title

Methotrexate Compared With Dactinomycin in Treating Patients With Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia

Basic Trial Information

PhaseTypeStatusAgeSponsorProtocol IDs
Phase IIITreatmentClosedNot specifiedNCIGOG-174
ECOG-G174, GOG-0174, NCT00003702

Objectives

  1. Compare the efficacy of methotrexate vs dactinomycin, as measured by complete response rate, in patients with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.
  2. Compare the toxicity of these regimens in these patients.
  3. Determine whether the definition of persistent gestational trophoblastic neoplasia is accurate (as determined by the likelihood that the beta human chorionic gonadotropin [HCG] titer would decline on the day treatment is initiated).

Entry Criteria

Disease Characteristics:

  • Histologically proven low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (persistent hydatidiform mole or choriocarcinoma), defined as 1 of the following:
    • Less than 10% decrease in the beta human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) titer over 3 weekly titers
    • Greater than 20% sustained rise in beta HCG titer over two consecutive weeks
    • Persistently elevated beta HCG titer more than 4 months after initial curettage (greater than 5 mIU/mL minimum)
    • Histologically proven nonmetastatic choriocarcinoma
    • Metastases to vagina, parametria, or lung (if no single pulmonary lesion is greater than 2 cm)


  • WHO score 0-6 (not including blood group or CT lung)


  • No histologically confirmed placental site pseudotumor


  • Must have undergone at least 1 uterine curettage


  • Previously untreated disease


Prior/Concurrent Therapy:

Biologic therapy:

  • Not specified

Chemotherapy:

  • No prior chemotherapy for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

Endocrine therapy:

  • Not specified

Radiotherapy:

  • Not specified

Surgery:

  • See Disease Characteristics
  • No concurrent curettage except as needed to control vaginal bleeding or to rule out placental site pseudotumor

Patient Characteristics:

Age:

  • Not specified

Performance status:

  • GOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

  • Not specified

Hematopoietic:

  • WBC at least 3,000/mm3
  • Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3
  • Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3

Hepatic:

  • Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
  • SGPT and SGOT no greater than 3 times ULN
  • Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times ULN
  • No significant prior abnormal hepatic function

Renal:

  • Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
  • No significant prior abnormal renal function

Other:

  • Not pregnant or nursing
  • Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for one year after study entry
  • No other prior or concurrent malignancies within the past 5 years except nonmelanomatous skin cancer

Expected Enrollment

216

A total of 216 patients will be accrued for this study within 4 years.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome(s)

Frequency of objective (complete) response as measured by normal beta human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels
Frequency and severity of observed adverse effects

Secondary Outcome(s)

Cure rate as measured by normal beta HCG levels

Outline

This is a randomized study. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

  • Arm I: Patients receive methotrexate intramuscularly once weekly in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.


  • Arm II: Patients receive dactinomycin IV over 15 minutes every 2 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.


All patients continue on treatment until 1 beta human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) titer is below the institutional normal. Patients then receive 1 additional consolidation treatment.

Patients are followed every 4 weeks for 1 year.

Trial Contact Information

Trial Lead Organizations

Gynecologic Oncology Group

Raymond Osborne, MD, FRCSC, MBA, Protocol chair
Ph: 416-480-4026
Email: ray.osbourne@sw.ca

Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group

Higinia Cardenes, MD, PhD, Protocol chair
Ph: 317-274-2524; 888-600-4822
Email: hcardene@iupui.edu

Registry Information
Official Title A Randomized Trial of Weekly Parenteral Methotrexate Versus "Pulsed" Dactinomycin as Primary Manangement for Low Risk Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia
Trial Start Date 1999-06-14
Trial Completion Date 2003-02-17 (estimated)
Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00003702 1
Date Submitted to PDQ 1998-12-16
Information Last Verified 2007-08-07
NCI Grant/Contract Number CA27469

Note: The purpose of most clinical trials listed in this database is to test new cancer treatments, or new methods of diagnosing, screening, or preventing cancer. Because all potentially harmful side effects are not known before a trial is conducted, dose and schedule modifications may be required for participants if they develop side effects from the treatment or test. The therapy or test described in this clinical trial is intended for use by clinical oncologists in carefully structured settings, and may not prove to be more effective than standard treatment. A responsible investigator associated with this clinical trial should be consulted before using this protocol.



Table of Links

1http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00003702