• Frequency of objective (complete) response as measured by normal beta human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Frequency and severity of observed adverse effects [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

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

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. It is not yet known whether methotrexate is more effective than dactinomycin in treating patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of methotrexate with that of dactinomycin in treating patients who have gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

OBJECTIVES:

• Compare the efficacy of methotrexate vs dactinomycin, as measured by complete response rate, in patients with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.
• Compare the toxicity of these regimens in these patients.
• 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).

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.

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

• Biological: dactinomycin
  Given IV
• Drug: methotrexate
  Given intramuscularly

• Arm I: Experimental
  Patients receive methotrexate intramuscularly once weekly in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients continue on treatment until 1 beta human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) titer is below the institutional normal. Patients then receive 1 additional consolidation treatment.
  Intervention: Drug: methotrexate
• Arm II: Experimental
  Patients receive dactinomycin IV over 15 minutes every 2 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients continue on treatment until 1 beta HCG titer is below the institutional normal. Patients then receive 1 additional consolidation treatment.
  Intervention: Biological: dactinomycin

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

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• Not specified

Performance status:

• GOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

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

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

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

• National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group