You are here

Article Text

Article menu
Download PDFPDF
Clinical Trials
GestaTIonal TrophoblAstic NeoplasIa Ultrasound assessMent: TITANIUM study
  1. Debora Verri1,
  2. Tina Pasciuto2,
  3. Elisabeth Epstein3,
  4. Robert Fruscio4,
  5. Floriana Mascilini2,
  6. Francesca Moro2,
  7. Giovanni Scambia2,5,
  8. Lil Valentin6 and
  9. Antonia Carla Testa1,5
  1. 1 Gynecology and Breast Care Center, Mater Olbia Hospital, Olbia, Italy
  2. 2 Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
  3. 3 Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset (KI-SÖS), Stockholm, Sweden
  4. 4 Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan - Bicocca, Hospital San Gerardo, Monza, Italy
  5. 5 Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Roma, Istituto di Ginecologia e Ostetricia, Rome, Italy
  6. 6 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Skåne University Hospital Malmö, Malmö, Sweden
  1. Correspondence to Dr Debora Verri, Gynecology and Breast Care Center, Mater Olbia Hospital, Olbia 07026, Italy; debora806{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Background There are limited data on ultrasound morphologic features of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. A predictive model to determine predictors of response to therapy would be ideal in the management of patients with this rare disease.

Primary Objectives and Study Hypothesis TITANIUM is a prospective, multicenter, observational study aiming to describe ultrasound features of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia and to investigate the role of ultrasound in identifying patients at high risk of resistance to single-drug therapy. The study hypothesis is that ultrasound could improve the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) scoring system for early identification of patients predisposed to single-drug resistance.

Trial Design and Major Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria Patients eligible have a diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia according to FIGO or the criteria set by Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK. At diagnosis, patients are classified as low-risk (score 0–6) or high-risk (score >6) according to the FIGO risk scoring system, and a baseline ultrasound scan is performed. Patients receive treatment according to local protocol at each institution. Follow-up ultrasound examinations are performed at 1, 4, 10, 16, and 22 months after start of chemotherapy, and at each scan, serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) level, and chemotherapy treatment, if any, are recorded.

Primary Endpoints Our aims are to define ultrasound features of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia and to develop a predictive model of resistance to single-drug therapy in low-risk patients.

Sample Size The sample size was calculated assuming that 70% of patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia are at low risk, and estimating the rate of resistance to single-drug therapy in this group to be 40%. Assuming a dropout rate of 10%, we should recruit at least 120 patients. With this sample size, we can attempt to create a mathematical model with three variables (either two ultrasound parameters in addition to the risk score or three ultrasound variables statistically significant at univariate analysis) to predict resistance to single-drug therapy in low-risk patients.

Estimated Dates for Completing Accrual and Presenting Results The accrual started in February 2019. Additional referral centers for gestational trophoblastic disease, with similar ultrasound expertise, are welcome to participate in the study. Enrollment should be completed by December 2021, and analysis will be conducted in December 2023.

Trial Registration The study received the Ethical Committee approval of the Coordinator Center (Rome) in January 2019 (Protocol No. 0004668/19).

  • gestational trophoblastic disease
  • trophoblastic neoplasms
  • trophoblastic tumor, placental site
  • hydatidiform mole, invasive

https://doi.org/10.1136/ijgc-2019-000434

Statistics from Altmetric.com

    Request Permissions

    If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

    View Full Text

    Footnotes

    • Contributors DV: study conception and design, data collection, monitoring data, analysis and interpretation of data, writing the manuscript, critical revision of the manuscript, final approval. TP: study conception and design, development of the web-based platform for data collection, monitoring data, analysis and interpretation of data, writing the manuscript, critical revision of the manuscript, final approval. EE: study conception and design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of data, writing the manuscript, critical revision of the manuscript, final approval. RF: study conception and design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of data, writing the manuscript, critical revision of the manuscript, final approval. FM: study conception and design, data collection, critical revision of the manuscript, final approval. FM: study conception and design, data collection, critical revision of the manuscript, final approval. GS: study conception and design, analysis and interpretation of data, critical revision of the manuscript, final approval. LV: study conception and design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of data, writing the manuscript, critical revision of the manuscript, final approval. ACT: study conception and design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of data, writing the manuscript, critical revision of the manuscript, final approval.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent for publication Not required.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.