REVISED FIGO STAGING SYSTEM FOR GESTATIONAL TROPHOBLASTIC TUMORS - RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THERAPY

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the revised International Federation of Gynecol ogy and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system for gestational trophoblastic tumors (GTT) and to recommend therapy. STUDY DESIGN: Review of the li terature regarding the development of the FIGO staging system, the Wor ld Health Organization (WHO) prognostic scoring system and Hammond's c linical classification for GTT pins analysis of response to single-age nt chemotherapy in 546 patients treated at the New England Trophoblast ic Disease Center. RESULTS: The revised FIGO staging system appears to successfully combine anatomic staging and a prognostic clinical class ification. The revised FIGO staging system reliably predicts treatment outcome and therefore can be used to help select optimal treatment pr otocols. CONCLUSION: The revised FIGO staging system is capable of pre dicting patients who respond poorly to single-agent chemotherapy, appe ars to reliably predict outcome and therefore can be used to help sele ct appropriate treatment protocols.