Study of the Genetic and Epigenetic Causes of Recurrent Hydatidiform Moles
Genetic Studies in Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
Genetic Studies in Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
Sponsor study identifier
observational
100
1 country
1
Study Start
November 7, 2000
Actual (reported)Primary Completion
January 2030
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
Study Completion
January 2030
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
The researchers' laboratory is studying a rare class of highly recurrent hydatidiform moles. These are usually complete hydatidiform moles (CHM), but sometimes they are partial hydatidiform moles PHM). With sporadic moles, the difference between CHMs and PHMs is that with CHMS, there is not typically an embryo or fetus at the time of diagnosis but with a PHM there may be a fetus. Also, CHMs have 46 chromosomes in each cell. While this is the number of chromosomes that should be found, the problem is that all the chromosomes come from the father. Normally, half the chromosomes should come from the mother and half should come from the father. Unlike CHMs, PHMs have 69 chromosomes. This means that PHMs have three copies of each chromosome when they should only have two. The extra copy comes from the father. The researchers' study focuses on moles that are genetically different from these sporadic moles in that they have 23 chromosomes from the mother and 23 chromosomes from the father - just like a normally developing pregnancy. These are called biparental moles because the mutation that causes the mole comes from both parents. This mutation occurs in a gene called NLRP7. The researchers' team is working to understand how mutations in NLRP7 leads to CHMs and how these mutations may lead to other types of pregnancy loss. The researchers are also trying to discover other genetic and epigenetic factors that may lead to moles.
Registry-reported information. Elapsed time and enrollment totals alone do not measure study progress or recruitment pace.
January 2030
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
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Dates and qualifiers reported by the registry. Estimated dates do not confirm that a milestone has occurred.
November 7, 2000
Actual (reported)November 4, 2009
Actual (reported)November 5, 2009
Actual (reported)January 2030
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
January 2030
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
Identifying the change in the genetic information that causes recurrent hydatidiform moles.
The researchers will isolate genetic material from blood of women with recurrent hydatidiform molar (RHM) pregnancies, their RHM pregnancies, and for some first-degree relatives. DNA sequencing along with bioinformatic analysis will be used to find changes in the genetic code unique to individuals with RHM. When a new gene is found that shows variants that are deleterious to its function in at least 3 unrelated women with RHM, but not in healthy pregnant women, the outcome (finding a new genetic cause of RHM) will be achieved. RHM are very rare and only 70% have a known cause (known gene), thus the researchers will continue recruitment and enrollment of rare undiagnosed individuals when they are referred to the study. A key finding in one individual can provide the clue for a new disease gene in others. It cannot be predicted when this will happen, thus enrollment and data collection will continue as long as the protocol is open.
Through study completion, an average of 15 years.
Identifying the changes in the genetic information that cause different forms of unexplained reproductive failure
The researchers will isolate genetic material from blood of women with recurrent unexplained reproductive failure (RF), their miscarried pregnancies if possible, and for some from first-degree relatives. DNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis will be used to find changes in the genetic code unique to individuals with unexplained RF. When a new gene is found that shows variants that are deleterious to its function in at least 3 unrelated women with unexplained RF, but not in healthy pregnant women, the outcome (finding a new genetic cause for RF) will be achieved. Unexplained RF is relatively rare and many causes are not yet known, thus the researchers will continue recruitment and enrollment of rare undiagnosed individuals when they are referred to the study. A key finding in one individual can provide the clue for a new disease gene in others. It cannot be predicted when this will happen, thus enrollment and data collection will continue as long as the protocol is open
Individuals with recurrent or sporadic hydatidiform moles and their first-degree family members. Sometimes additional family members are also enrolled.
Individuals who have had sporadic or recurrent hydatidiform moles and their first degree relatives. Sometimes additional family members are also enrolled.
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
Van den Veyver IB, Al-Hussaini TK. Biparental hydatidiform moles: a maternal effect mutation affecting imprinting in the offspring. Hum Reprod Update. 2006 May-Jun;12(3):233-42. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmk005. Epub 2006 Mar 15.
Moglabey YB, Kircheisen R, Seoud M, El Mogharbel N, Van den Veyver I, Slim R. Genetic mapping of a maternal locus responsible for familial hydatidiform moles. Hum Mol Genet. 1999 Apr;8(4):667-71. doi: 10.1093/hmg/8.4.667.
lymphoblast DNA; tissue
Ignatia B Van den Veyver, MD
Baylor College of Medicine
First Submitted
November 4, 2009
First Posted
November 5, 2009
Study Start
November 7, 2000
Actual (reported)Primary Completion
January 2030
EstimatedStudy of Different Therapeutic Strategies in Hydatidiform Mole With Lung Nodule
Through study completion, an average of 15 years.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Qian J, Deveault C, Bagga R, Xie X, Slim R. Women heterozygous for NALP7/NLRP7 mutations are at risk for reproductive wastage: report of two novel mutations. Hum Mutat. 2007 Jul;28(7):741. doi: 10.1002/humu.9498.
Slim R, Mehio A. The genetics of hydatidiform moles: new lights on an ancient disease. Clin Genet. 2007 Jan;71(1):25-34. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-0004.2006.00697.x.
Djuric U, El-Maarri O, Lamb B, Kuick R, Seoud M, Coullin P, Oldenburg J, Hanash S, Slim R. Familial molar tissues due to mutations in the inflammatory gene, NALP7, have normal postzygotic DNA methylation. Hum Genet. 2006 Oct;120(3):390-5. doi: 10.1007/s00439-006-0192-3. Epub 2006 Jul 28.
Murdoch S, Djuric U, Mazhar B, Seoud M, Khan R, Kuick R, Bagga R, Kircheisen R, Ao A, Ratti B, Hanash S, Rouleau GA, Slim R. Mutations in NALP7 cause recurrent hydatidiform moles and reproductive wastage in humans. Nat Genet. 2006 Mar;38(3):300-2. doi: 10.1038/ng1740. Epub 2006 Feb 5.
Fisher RA, Hodges MD, Newlands ES. Familial recurrent hydatidiform mole: a review. J Reprod Med. 2004 Aug;49(8):595-601.
Zhao J, Moss J, Sebire NJ, Cui QC, Seckl MJ, Xiang Y, Fisher RA. Analysis of the chromosomal region 19q13.4 in two Chinese families with recurrent hydatidiform mole. Hum Reprod. 2006 Feb;21(2):536-41. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dei357. Epub 2005 Oct 20.
Fisher RA, Hodges MD, Rees HC, Sebire NJ, Seckl MJ, Newlands ES, Genest DR, Castrillon DH. The maternally transcribed gene p57(KIP2) (CDNK1C) is abnormally expressed in both androgenetic and biparental complete hydatidiform moles. Hum Mol Genet. 2002 Dec 15;11(26):3267-72. doi: 10.1093/hmg/11.26.3267.
van der Smagt JJ, Scheenjes E, Kremer JA, Hennekam FA, Fisher RA. Heterogeneity in the origin of recurrent complete hydatidiform moles: not all women with multiple molar pregnancies have biparental moles. BJOG. 2006 Jun;113(6):725-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2006.00929.x.
Kou YC, Shao L, Peng HH, Rosetta R, del Gaudio D, Wagner AF, Al-Hussaini TK, Van den Veyver IB. A recurrent intragenic genomic duplication, other novel mutations in NLRP7 and imprinting defects in recurrent biparental hydatidiform moles. Mol Hum Reprod. 2008 Jan;14(1):33-40. doi: 10.1093/molehr/gam079. Epub 2007 Nov 26.
Panichkul PC, Al-Hussaini TK, Sierra R, Kashork CD, Popek EJ, Stockton DW, Van den Veyver IB. Recurrent biparental hydatidiform mole: additional evidence for a 1.1-Mb locus in 19q13.4 and candidate gene analysis. J Soc Gynecol Investig. 2005 Jul;12(5):376-83. doi: 10.1016/j.jsgi.2005.02.011.
Al-Hussaini TK, Abd el-Aal DM, Van den Veyver IB. Recurrent pregnancy loss due to familial and non-familial habitual molar pregnancy. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2003 Nov;83(2):179-86. doi: 10.1016/s0020-7292(03)00209-1.
Saxena A, Frank D, Panichkul P, Van den Veyver IB, Tycko B, Thaker H. The product of the imprinted gene IPL marks human villous cytotrophoblast and is lost in complete hydatidiform mole. Placenta. 2003 Sep-Oct;24(8-9):835-42. doi: 10.1016/s0143-4004(03)00130-9.
Van den Veyver IB, Norman B, Tran CQ, Bourjac J, Slim R. The human homologue (PEG3) of the mouse paternally expressed gene 3 (Peg3) is maternally imprinted but not mutated in women with familial recurrent hydatidiform molar pregnancies. J Soc Gynecol Investig. 2001 Sep-Oct;8(5):305-13. doi: 10.1016/s1071-5576(01)00129-0.
Mahadevan S, Wen S, Balasa A, Fruhman G, Mateus J, Wagner A, Al-Hussaini T, Van den Veyver IB. No evidence for mutations in NLRP7 and KHDC3L in women with androgenetic hydatidiform moles. Prenat Diagn. 2013 Dec;33(13):1242-7. doi: 10.1002/pd.4239. Epub 2013 Oct 4.
Mahadevan S, Wen S, Wan YW, Peng HH, Otta S, Liu Z, Iacovino M, Mahen EM, Kyba M, Sadikovic B, Van den Veyver IB. NLRP7 affects trophoblast lineage differentiation, binds to overexpressed YY1 and alters CpG methylation. Hum Mol Genet. 2014 Feb 1;23(3):706-16. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddt457. Epub 2013 Sep 18.
Planned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
Study Completion
January 2030
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
Last Updated
April 23, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-04
The study is aimed to find the genetic cause of a rare condition, hydatidiform moles. Patient data with no identifying information will be published in aggregate following peer review in journals and/or presented at scientific meetings.
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Source: ClinicalTrials.gov.
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