Impact of molecular genotyping on the diagnosis and treatment of human chorionic gonadotropin-producing tumors

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the use of molecular genotyping to accurately diagnose and treat human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-producing tumors and to evaluate the discriminating capacity of molecular testing on prognosis and overall survival.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study of patients registered with the French Reference Center for Trophoblastic Disease between 1999 and 2021. We included all patients with hCG-producing tumors for whom results of molecular genotyping were available.

Results: Fifty-five patients with molecular genotyping were included: 81.2 % (n = 45) had tumors of gestational origin, 12.7 % (n = 7) of non-gestational origin and 5.5 % (n = 3) of undetermined origin. The results of molecular genotyping influenced the treatment decisions for 17 % of patients in this cohort. Overall survival was 93.3 % for patients with gestational tumors (after a median follow-up of 74 months) compared to 71.4 % for patients with non-gestational tumors (after a median follow-up of 23 months).

Conclusion: In atypical presentations of hCG-producing tumors, molecular genotyping is a valuable tool to guide diagnosis and tailor treatment recommendations.

Keywords: Choriocarcinoma; Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia; Human chorionic gonadotropin-producing tumors; Hydatidiform mole; Molecular genotyping.