Predictors of survival in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer undergoing secondary cytoreductive surgery based on the pooled analysis of an international collaborative cohort

Comparison of secondary cytoreductive surgery plus chemotherapy with chemotherapy alone for recurrent epithelial ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal carcinoma: A propensity score-matched analysis of 112 consecutive patients

To compare secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS) plus chemotherapy with chemotherapy alone in Japanese patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancer (ROC).From our institutional database, we identified 112 patients who underwent therapy for ROC between 2005 and 2013. Of the 112 patients, 77 received salvage chemotherapy alone (CT group) and 35 received SCS plus chemotherapy (SCS group). To reduce the impact of treatment selection bias on treatment outcomes, propensity score-matching analysis was used.In the entire cohort, prognostic features were poorer in the CT group than in the SCS group. The platinum-free interval was significantly lower (15.35 months vs 30.77 months), cancer antigen 125 (CA125) level was significantly higher (247.38 IU/mL vs 83.17 IU/mL), and number of solitary recurrence sites was significantly lower in the CT group than in the SCS group. The matched cohort consisted of 29 CT and 29 SCS patients with a median follow-up period of 24 and 58 months, respectively. In the matched cohort, progression-free survival (PFS) was longer in the SCS group than in the CT group (P = .02); however, overall survival did not differ (P = .23).SCS might be associated with improved PFS in ROC patients. SCS is beneficial in appropriately selected ROC patients.

Laparoscopic-based score assessment combined with a multiple disciplinary team in management of recurrent ovarian cancer: A single-center prospective study for personalized surgical therapy

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of laparoscopic-based score combined with a multiple disciplinary team (MDT) for predicting optimal cytoreduction and perform personalized surgical treatment in recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC).The study is a single-center, prospective investigation. From March 2013 to May 2015, the consecutive treated patients with platinum-sensitive ROC were collected in Yangpu Hospital. The appropriated patients were enrolled into the study to perform the laparoscopic-based PIV (predictive index value) score assessment with an MDT for predicting optimal cytoreduction. The PIV cutoff value was confirmed to be 8. Patients of PIV <8 received laparoscopic/laparotomy secondary surgery following chemotherapy, and the ones with PIV ≥8 did chemotherapy alone. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predicted value (PPV), negative predicted value (NPV), and overall accuracy for each range of PIV score were calculated. All recruited patients participated in follow-up observation. Overall survival was recorded.In total, 58 eligible ROC patients received laparoscopy assessment. Forty-one patients of PIV <8 received secondary cytoreductive surgeries. Twenty-three (23/41 56.1%) attained optimal cytoreduction. However, 8 of 23 achieved completed cytoreduction. Also, 17 patients of PIV ≥8 underwent chemotherapy alone. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and overall accuracy for PIV ≥8 were 60%, 100%, 100%, 25%, and 64.7%, respectively. Overall survival in patients performing optimal cytoreduction was significantly higher than in those undergoing suboptimal cytoreduction or chemotherapy alone (45.9 ± 2.5 vs 36.7 ± 4.3 months, P = .047; 45.9 ± 2.5 vs 35.8 ± 3.4 months, P = .027).Laparoscopic-based score assessment plus MDT helps to identify the appropriate patients to perform optimal secondary cytoreduction and provide a personalized surgical approach in management of ROC.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion as a component of multimodality therapy for ovarian and primary peritoneal cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The role of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (HIPEC) in the multimodality treatment of ovarian peritoneal metastases (OPM) and primary peritoneal cancer (PPC) remains controversial. We hypothesized that cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and HIPEC would provide meaningful survival benefit without excessive morbidity.

METHODS

We reviewed clinicopathologic and perioperative data following 96 CRS-HIPEC procedures for primary or recurrent OPM and PPC. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and multivariate Cox-regression models identified prognostic factors affecting oncologic outcomes.

RESULTS

CRS-HIPEC was mostly performed for recurrent disease (56.3%) and high-grade serous carcinoma (72.9%). Platinum-based systemic chemotherapy was administered to 89.5% of patients, with 75.5% having platinum-sensitive disease at CRS-HIPEC. Complete macroscopic resection was achieved in 70.8% of patients. Clavien-Dindo grade 3/4 morbidity occurred in 23.4% of patients; three patients died within 60-days postoperatively. Median overall survival from diagnosis of peritoneal metastases and CRS-HIPEC was 78 and 38 months, respectively. Completeness of cytoreduction, pathologic subtype, and 30-day morbidity were independent predictors of survival in multiple regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates promising survival data and supports the role of HIPEC in the multimodality treatment algorithm for primary or recurrent OPM and PPC. However definite indications and timing of HIPEC need to be clarified by prospective studies.

Surgery for Recurrent Uterine Cancer: Surgical Outcomes and Implications for Survival—A Case Series

Objective

The purpose of this study was to describe the patterns of relapse in uterine cancer (UC) and the role of surgery in the recurrent setting.

Methods

We describe surgical and clinical outcomes of all patients who underwent surgery for recurrent UC in a gynecological oncology tertiary referral center between May 1, 2013, and April 30, 2016. Progression-free survival and overall survival were estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods with the surgery at relapse being the starting point.

Results

We evaluated 15 patients with a median age of 66 years. The predominant histology was the endometrioid variant (n = 11; 73.3%). The median interval between the end of previous treatment and relapse surgery was 24 months (range, 8–164). Locoregional pelvic recurrences were the most common type of recurrence (n = 13; 86.7%) with the para-aortic lymph node space being the most commonly affected extrapelvic site (13%). Patients predominantly presented with a multifocal pattern of relapse (n = 10; 66.7%) requiring multivisceral resections such as bowel (n = 7; 46.6%) and/or bladder/ureteric resections (n = 8; 53.3%) to achieve complete tumor clearance. All patients were operated tumor free with a 30-day major morbidity and mortality rate of 6.7% and 0%, respectively. Five patients (33.3%) received postoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Five patients (33.3%) relapsed, and 3 died within a mean follow-up of 12.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.5–18.2). Two of those patients had a sarcoma.

Mean progression-free survival and overall survival for the entire cohort postrelapse surgery was 21.7 months (95%CI, 13.9–29.5) and 26.0 months (95%CI, 18.4–33.7), respectively. Survival was significantly worse in patients with nonendometrioid histology (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Surgery for UC relapse seems feasible with acceptable morbidity and high complete resection rates despite the multifocal patterns of relapse in a selected group of patients in a reference center for gynecological cancers. Larger scale studies are warranted to establish the value of surgery at relapse for UC.

Secondary cytoreductive surgery in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer: A prognostic analysis with 103 cases

BACKGROUND

Due to satisfactory cytoreductive surgery combined with platinum-based chemotherapy in epithelial ovarian cancer has improved greatly, however, the relapse rate also high. In current study, we analyzed prognostic factors related to secondary cytoreductive surgery in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.

METHODS

Clinical and follow-up data from 103 patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer who received secondary cytoreductive surgery and were admitted to our hospital between January 2000 and December 2008 were analyzed.

RESULTS

Median survival after recurrence (RS) after the first relapse for the 103 patients was 36 months, and median overall survival (OS) was 60 months. Patients without visible residual tumors after secondary cytoreductive surgery had longer RS and OS compared to those with residual tumors ≥1 cm. The RS and OS of patients without visible residual tumors after secondary cytoreductive surgery were not significantly different compared to those with residual tumors between 0.1 and 1 cm. Patients with disease free interval (DFI) ≥ 12 months at secondary cytoreductive surgery had longer RS and OS compared to those with DFI < 12 months. Patients with one recurrent lesion had longer RS and OS compared to those with more than one lesion.

CONCLUSIONS

Residual tumor at secondary cytoreductive surgery, DFI and number of lesions were independent prognostic factors for secondary cytoreductive surgery in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. Patients with DFI ≥12 months and a single lesion had better prognosis for achieving satisfactory cytoreduction, especially the absence of visible residual tumors.

Cytoreduction (Peritonectomy Procedures) Combined with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) in Advanced Ovarian Cancer: Retrospective Italian Multicenter Observational Study of 511 Cases

Purpose

The aim of this study was to help with the process of selecting patients with advanced ovarian cancer to undergo cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) by analyzing outcome data at distinct clinical time points reflecting the natural history of the disease.

Methods

In a retrospective Italian multicenter study investigating patients with advanced ovarian cancer who underwent CRS plus HIPEC between 1998 and 2014, we analyzed data for consecutive patients at eight treatment time points: primary debulking surgery (PDS); interval debulking surgery after partial response, after no response, and after a pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy; first recurrence with a progression-free interval >12, <12 months, or >12 months in patients who underwent further chemotherapy before CRS and HIPEC; and patients who underwent two or more CRS procedures and chemotherapy lines before CRS and HIPEC.

Results

The 511 enrolled patients underwent 3373 procedures; 72.6% achieved complete cytoreduction, with an overall major morbidity of 17.4%. At a median follow-up of 53.8 months, overall survival (OS) was 54.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 44–58.4) and progression-free (PFS) survival was 16.6 months (95% CI 14.7–19.1). Outcome analysis in patients in whom CRS plus HIPEC was used for primary advanced cancer or recurrent ovarian cancer showed significant differences in OS and PFS according to the time points analyzed. Multivariate analysis identified completeness of CRS, Peritoneal Cancer Index, and the times when patients underwent CRS plus HIPEC as independent prognostic factors.

Conclusions

This selective information on survival should help in interpreting the findings from ongoing randomized studies focusing on CRS plus HIPEC in patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

Surgery for Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian Cancer in the Netherlands: A Population-Based Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

The value of secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS) in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer is controversial. The aim of this population-based study was to investigate the role of SCS in the Netherlands.

METHODS

Data of 408 patients who underwent SCS between 2000 and 2013 were retrospectively collected from 38 Dutch hospitals. Survival after complete and incomplete SCS was estimated by Kaplan-Meier curves. Factors associated with overall survival (OS) were explored with Cox regression.

RESULTS

Median OS after SCS was 51 months (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 44.8-57.2). Complete SCS was achieved in 295 (72.3%) patients, with an OS of 57 months (95% CI, 49.0-65.0) compared with 28 months (95% CI, 20.8-35.2) in patients with incomplete SCS (log-rank test; P < 0.001). Nonserous histology (HR 0.65; 95% CI 0.45-0.95), a long progression free interval (hazard ratio [HR], 0.29; 95% CI, 0.07-1.18), a good performance status (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.49-0.94), SCS without preoperative chemotherapy (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.51-1.01), and complete SCS (HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.33-0.64) were prognostic factors for survival.

CONCLUSIONS

This population-based retrospective study showed that there might be a role for SCS in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer especially when complete SCS can be accomplished. However, before adopting SCS as a standard treatment modality for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer, results of 3 ongoing prospectively randomized trials are needed.

Surgical management of recurrent ovarian cancer

Most patients with advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer will experience a relapse of disease despite a complete response after surgical cytoreduction and platinum-based chemotherapy. Treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer mainly comprises various combinations of systemic chemotherapy with or without targeted agents. The role of cytoreductive surgery for recurrent ovarian cancer is not well established. Although the literature on survival benefit of cytoreductive surgery for recurrent disease has expanded steadily over the past decade, most studies were retrospective, single-institution series with small numbers of patients. Given the balance between survival benefit and surgery-related morbidity during maximum cytoreductive surgical effort, it is essential to establish the optimal selection criteria for identifying appropriate candidates who will benefit from surgery without worsening quality of life. Three phase III randomized trials for this issue are currently underway. Herein, we present contemporary evidence supporting the positive role of cytoreductive surgery and offer selection criteria for optimal candidates for surgery in the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer.

Postoperative Complications After Distal Pancreatectomy Performed During Cytoreductive Surgery for Gynecologic Malignancies

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the incidence of pancreatic leak and other postoperative complications after distal pancreatectomy performed during debulking surgery for gynecologic malignancies.

METHODS

All patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy during their debulking surgery from 2010 to 2014 were identified. Postoperative complications within 30 days and pancreatic leak within 120 days after surgery were included.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 62 years (36-78 years). Four patients (22%) were admitted to the intensive care unit, and the average length of hospital stay was 10 days. Nine patients developed postoperative complications within 30 days after surgery (50%) with no perioperative mortality up to 90 days after surgery. No patients required reexploration. The median time from surgery to initiation of chemotherapy was 39.5 days. Two patients developed pancreatic leak (11%). Among the patients who developed pancreatic leak, the average length of hospital stay was 11.5 days and time to initiation of chemotherapy was 75 days. Conservative management was successful in both cases.

CONCLUSION

In this series, the rate of pancreatic leak was lower than previously reported with no perioperative mortality or surgical reexploration. However, the time to initiation of chemotherapy was delayed in those who developed pancreatic leak. These data are important in patient counseling and decision making at the time of debulking surgery. Gynecologic oncologists considering distal pancreatectomy should be familiar with perioperative management of these patients.

Hepatic resection during cytoreductive surgery for primary or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer

PURPOSE

Surgical cytoreduction remains a cornerstone in the management of patients with advanced and recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. Parenchymal liver metastases determine stage VI disease and are commonly considered a major limit in the achievement of an optimal cytoreduction. The purpose of this manuscript was to discuss the rationale of liver resection and the morbidity related to this procedure in advanced and recurrent ovarian cancer.

METHODS

A search of the National Library of Medicine's MEDLINE/PubMed database until March 2015 was performed using the keywords: "ovarian cancer," "hepatic," "liver," and "metastases."

RESULTS

In patients with liver metastases, hepatic resection is associated with a similar prognosis as stage IIIC patients. The length of the disease-free interval between primary diagnosis and occurrence of liver metastases, as well as residual disease after resection, is the most important prognostic factors. In addition, the number of liver lesions, resection margins, and the gynecologic oncology group performance status seem to play also an important role in determining outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

In properly selected patients, liver resections at the time of cytoreduction increase rates of optimal cytoreduction and improve survival in advanced-stage and recurrent ovarian cancer patients.

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy after Secondary Cytoreduction in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Single-center Comparative Analysis

BACKGROUND

Although the standard of care after recurrence of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is chemotherapy, increasing data suggest that combining cytoreductive surgery with intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a promising option for patients with recurrent EOC. Our aim was to determine the prognostic value of the addition of HIPEC to secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCR) in recurrent EOC.

METHODS

We analyzed a series of 79 patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent EOC who were treated from May 2000 to January 2014. Fifty patients who underwent SCR were compared to 29 who had SCR in combination with HIPEC.

RESULTS

The SCR group had a higher median age (58.4 years) compared to the SCR + HIPEC group (51.6 years) (p = 0.006). The median hospital stay length was longer for SCR + HIPEC versus SCR patients (11 and 8 days, respectively; p = 0.009). More subjects experienced National Cancer Institute grade III-IV morbidity in the SCR + HIPEC group (34.5 %) compared to the SCR group (10.6 %) (p = 0.015). Conversely, there were no deaths in the SCR + HIPEC group and 2 (4.0 %) deaths the SCR group. The median disease-free survival did not differ between SCR and SCR + HIPEC patients (18.6 and 15.8 months, respectively; p = 0.82); nor did median overall survival (59.3 and 58.3 months, respectively; p = 0.95). The presence of carcinomatosis was the only variable that remained linked to a higher risk of recurrence and death in the multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that the addition of HIPEC to cytoreduction in patients with recurrent platinum-sensitive EOC does not improve survival.

Proposal for selection criteria of secondary cytoreductive surgery in recurrent epithelial ovarian, tubal, and peritoneal cancers

BACKGROUND

The selection criteria for secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS) in recurrent ovarian cancer are yet to be defined. The aim of this study was to propose the selection criteria through identifying predictive factors for successful SCS.

METHODS

All patients who underwent SCS for recurrent epithelial ovarian, tubal, and peritoneal cancers between 1982 and 2012 at our institution were identified through our database. Potential prognostic factors were evaluated in univariate and multivariate analyses. Survival after SCS was examined by the grouping model based on the number of prognostic factors.

RESULTS

We performed SCS in 80 consecutive patients, 48 (60 %) of whom achieved complete resection. Complete/incomplete resection significantly influenced survival (median 65 vs. 26 months; p = 0.0005). Among favorable prognostic factors determined before SCS, treatment-free interval >12 months, absent distant metastasis, solitary disease, and performance status 0 were independently associated with better survival (p = 0.0009, 0.00003, 0.0004, and 0.015, respectively). Patients with 3-4 of those factors had better survival than those with 2 or 0-1 factors (median 79, 26, and 19 months; p < 0.00001 and <0.0000000001, respectively). Complete resection of visible tumors was achieved in 79 % of patients with 3-4 factors, in 40 % of those with 2 factors, and in 33 % of those with 0-1 factor. Importantly, even when tumor removal was incomplete at SCS, median survival of patients with 3-4 factors was still quite favorable (83 vs. 67.5 months for complete/incomplete resection, respectively), while those of patients with 2 factors (41 vs. 25 months) and 0-1 factor (19 vs. 19 months) were not.

CONCLUSION

We strongly recommend SCS for patients with 3-4 of the above favorable factors at recurrence. As for patients with 2 factors, SCS may be considered if complete resection is expected to be achieved. Prospective studies are warranted to validate our proposal.

Expression profile of COL2A1 and the pseudogene SLC6A10P predicts tumor recurrence in high-grade serous ovarian cancer

Tumor recurrence, following initial response to adjuvant chemotherapy, is a major problem in women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). Microarray analysis of primary tumors has identified genes that may be useful in risk stratification/overall survival, but are of limited value in predicting the >70% rate for tumor recurrence. In this study, we performed RNA-Seq analysis of primary and recurrent HGSOC to first identify unique differentially expressed genes. From this dataset, we selected 21 archetypical coding genes and one noncoding RNA, based on statistically significant differences in their expression profile between tumors, for validation by qPCR in a larger cohort of 110 ovarian tumors (71 primary and 39 recurrent) and for testing association of specific genes with time-to-recurrence (TTR). Kaplan-Meier tests revealed that high expression of collagen type II, alpha 1 (COL2A1) was associated with delayed TTR (HR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.27-0.82, p = 0.008), whereas low expression of the pseudogene, solute carrier family 6 member 10 (SLC6A10P), was associated with longer TTR (HR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.30-0.93, p = 0.027). Notably, TTR was significantly delayed for tumors that simultaneously highly expressed COL2A1 and lowly expressed SLC6A10P (HR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.082-0.54, p = 0.0011), an estimated median of 95 months as compared to an estimated median of 16 months for subjects expressing other levels of COL2A1 and SLC6A10P. Thus, evaluating expression levels of COL2A1 and SLC6A10P at primary surgery could be beneficial for clinically managing recurrence of HGSOC.

Development of a preliminary nomogram to predict progression of bone scan for castration-resistant prostate cancer

The optimal time to perform bone scan to detect new metastasis during the castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) stage remains undefined. This study attempted to identify predictors of progression of bone scan for CRPC, and use such information to develop a nomogram to predict the optimal time of examinations for bone scan. The analysis included 167 CRPC patients. Progression of bone lesion, as evaluated by bone scan, occurred in 64 (38.3%) cases. A logistic regression identified the following three risk factors: short time to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression, severe pain, and short PSA doubling time (PSADT) (P<0.05 for all). A nomogram model was constructed to predict progression of bone scan using time to PSA progression and severe pain as dichotomized variables and PSADT as a continuous variable. The result indicated that a predictive nomogram model showed a bootstrap-corrected concordance index of 0.762 and good calibration using the three readily available variables, and there were worse prognosis and higher progression rate of bone scan for patients with time to PSA progression <6.6 months, severe pain, and short PSADT (<2 months). In conclusion, short time to PSA progression, severe pain, and short PSADT are three risk factors of progression of bone scan for CRPC patients. The predictive nomogram model may be a valuable numerical assessment tool for patient consultation and treatment decision.

External validation of two prediction models of complete secondary cytoreductive surgery in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to validate the performance of two prediction models, the AGO score and the Tian model, of complete secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS) in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. The predictive value of both models for survival controlled for the outcome of SCS was analyzed and known predictive factors for complete SCS were tested.

METHODS

A population-based database with 408 patients, who underwent SCS between 2000 and 2013 in 38 Dutch hospitals, was used. The validation cohorts for the AGO score and the model of Tian contained 273 (66.9%) and 257 (63.0%) patients, respectively.

RESULTS

The AGO score and Tian model showed a positive predictive value for complete SCS of 82.0% and 80.3% respectively, and a false negative rate of 68.5% and 55.6% respectively. A positive AGO score had no significant association with overall survival (HR 0.73; 95% CI 0.51-1.06) whereas the low risk score of the Tian model did (HR 0.62; 95% CI 0.41-0.93). A good performance status (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.33-1.10) and the absence of ascites (OR 0.18; 95% CI 0.08-0.41) were prognostic factors for complete SCS.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the AGO score and the model of Tian showed a high positive predictive value for complete SCS but also relatively high false negative rates. However, before the two prediction models can be applied in daily clinical practice the usefulness of SCS itself has to be proven first by the three ongoing randomized controlled trials: DESKTOP III trial, the GOG 213 trial and the Dutch SOCceR trial.

Evaluation of prognostic factors for secondary cytoreductive surgery in Chinese patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS) is reported to be beneficial for patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). The current study is to evaluate risk factors that would affect the surgical optimal resection rate and prognosis of recurrent EOC after SCS in Chinese patients.

METHODS

In our study, 44 patients with recurrent EOC treated with SCS at Shandong Cancer Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Patient characteristics were collected and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze factors that affect the optimal surgical resection rate. The overall survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to analyze risk factors that affect the overall survival of these patients.

RESULTS

90.9% (40/44) patients achieved optimal cytoreductive surgery. Logistic regression did not find any factor that affects the optimal surgical resection rate. Among 24 cases that received chemotherapy before SCS, 18 cases achieved good response and thus had a better survival rate after SCS. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis indicated that differentiation, the extent of surgical resection during the initial surgery, and course and efficacy of chemotherapy prior to SCS, and efficacy of chemotherapy after the first recurrence significantly correlated with survival of patients with recurrent cancer (P < 0.05; OR < 1).

CONCLUSION

Selection of patients that are suitable to perform SCS will enhance the optimal surgical resection rate. The prognosis of Chinese patients with recurrent EOC after SCS is affected by histologic grade, the extent of residual disease and the effect of chemotherapy after first relapse.

The role of secondary cytoreduction in low-grade serous ovarian cancer or peritoneal cancer

OBJECTIVES

We sought to determine the benefit of secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCRS) in patients with low-grade serous ovarian or peritoneal carcinoma, and whether cytoreduction to no gross residual disease affects survival.

METHODS

A single institution retrospective chart review was conducted in patients with recurrent low-grade serous carcinoma who underwent SCRS between 1995 and 2012. Data including demographics, survival, chemotherapy, disease characteristics at the time of surgery, residual disease, and operative complications were collected. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were used to examine survival outcomes.

RESULTS

Forty-one patients met inclusion criteria. The median time between primary tumor debulking and SCRS was 33.2 months. Of 41 eligible patients who underwent SCRS, 32 (78%) had gross residual disease at the completion of secondary surgery. The median PFS for patients with no gross residual disease after SCRS was 60.3 months, compared to 10.7 months for patients with gross residual disease (p = 0.008). Median OS from diagnosis for patients with no gross residual disease after SCRS was 167.5 months compared to 88.9 months (p = 0.10). Median OS from the time of SCRS for patients with no gross residual disease was 93.6 months compared to 45.8 months (p = 0.04). Complications occurred in 61% of patients after SCRS; there were no deaths directly attributable to surgery.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest a benefit to SCRS in patients with recurrent low-grade serous carcinoma. Efforts to maximally cytoreduce patients should be made as patients with no gross residual disease had a better PFS and a trend toward better OS.

Treatment options in recurrent ovarian cancer: latest evidence and clinical potential

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the fifth most common cause of cancer death in women. Although significant progress has been made in the treatment of OC, the majority of patients experience disease recurrence and receive second-line and sometimes several lines of treatment. Here we review the options available for the treatment of recurrent disease and discuss how different agents are selected, combined and offered in a rationale sequence in the context of multidisciplinary care. We reviewed published work between 1990 and 2013 and meeting abstracts related to the use of chemotherapy and surgery in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. We discuss treatment regimens, efficacy endpoints and safety profiles of the different therapies. Platinum-based drugs are the most active agents and are selected on the basis of a probability of response to retreatment. Nonplatinum-based chemotherapy regimens are usually given in the 'platinum-resistant' setting and have a modest effect on outcome. Molecular targeted therapy of ovarian cancer given alone or integrated with chemotherapy is showing promising results. Many patients are now receiving more than one line of therapy for recurrent disease, usually platinum based until platinum resistance emerges. The sequential use of chemotherapy regimens and the incorporation of molecularly targeted treatments, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy, have over the last decade significantly extended the median survival of patients with ovarian cancer.

Positron emission tomography-laparoscopy based method in the prediction of complete cytoreduction in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

This study was designed to evaluate the positron emission tomography-laparoscopy-based method in the prediction of complete/optimal cytoreduction in platinum sensitive recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer patients.

METHODS

We analysed 223 consecutive recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer patients. Inclusion criteria were absence of extra-abdominal disease and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status ≤2. Complete and optimal secondary cytoreduction are defined as macroscopic absence or less than 1 cm of residual tumor at the end of surgery.

RESULTS

Laparoscopy was feasible in 210 of 223 patients (94.2 %). Laparoscopy stated 127 (60.5 %) possible cytoreductions and 83 (39.5 %) systemic chemotherapies. In the same population, AGO score evaluation avowed 150 possible cytoreduction (71.5 %) and 60 unresectable women (28.5 %). Overall, 115 of 210 patients (54.7 %) underwent successful secondary cytoreduction: complete and optimal cytoreduction was obtained in 103 (89.5 %) and 12 (10.5 %) patients, respectively. Laparoscopy obtained a positive predictive value of 91.3 %. Laparoscopy recovered to secondary cytoreduction 13 of 60 patients (21.7 %) deemed as not resectable according to AGO score. Forty-eight of 150 AGO score positive patients (32 %) were judged nonresectable by laparoscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirmed that laparoscopy could be effective for the selection of platinum-sensitive recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer patients suitable for complete cytoreduction.

Management of pancreatic fistulas after a splenectomy as part of cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the incidence of postoperative morbidities, focusing specifically on pancreatic fistulas, after a splenectomy performed as part of cytoreductive surgery for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed for all the patients with ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancer who underwent splenectomy during a 5-year period. Patient-, disease-, and surgery-related data were collected. Pancreatic fistulas were identified when the drainage fluid obtained via a surgically placed drain had an amylase content greater than 3 times the normal serum value after postoperative day 3.

RESULTS

A splenectomy was performed in 21 patients. Postoperative pancreatic fistulas developed in 6 patients (29%). Of these 6 patients, 2 had no symptoms and did not require specific treatment for their pancreatic fistulas. Therapeutic intervention was required in the remaining 4 patients. The durations of oral feeding prohibition and the use of a peripancreatic drain were longer in the patients with a pancreatic fistula than in those without a pancreatic fistula. Overall, the pancreatic fistulas were managed conservatively or using minimally invasive procedures. Staple-line reinforcement seemed to be an effective means of closing the transected stump during the splenectomy, compared with the standard stapling technique.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated amylase levels in the drainage fluid reflect the patient's actual condition better than serum amylase levels. We recommend the intraoperative placement of a peripancreatic drain and postoperative measurement of amylase concentrations in the drainage fluid to identify the development of pancreatic fistulas and to facilitate the management of this complication.

Secondary Complete Cytoreduction in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer: Benefit of Optimal Patient Selection Using Scoring System

Objective

Complete tumor cytoreduction seems to be beneficial for patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (REOC). The challenge is to identify patients eligible for such surgery. Several scores based on simple clinical parameters have attempted to predict resectability and help in patient selection for surgery in REOC.

The aims of this study were to assess the performance of these models in an independent population and to evaluate the impact of complete resection.

Materials and Methods

A total of 194 patients with REOC between January 2000 and December 2010 were included in 2 French centers. Two scores were used: the AGO DESKTOP OVAR trial score and a score from Tian et al.

The performance (sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values) of these scores was evaluated in our population. Survival curves were constructed to evaluate the survival impact of surgery on recurrence.

Results

Positive predictive values for complete resection were 80.6% and 74.0% for the DESKTOP trial score and the Tian score, respectively. The false-negative rate was high for both models (65.4% and 71.4%, respectively). We found a significantly higher survival in the patients with complete resection (59.4 vs 17.9 months,P< 0.01) even after adjustment for the confounding variables (hazard ratio [HR], 2.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–6.3;P= 0.04).

Conclusions

In REOC, surgery seems to have a positive impact on survival, if complete surgery can be achieved. However, factors predicting complete resection are not yet clearly defined. Recurrence-free interval and initial resection seem to be the most relevant factors. Laparoscopic evaluation could help to clarify the indications for surgery.

Survival benefit of taxane plus platinum in recurrent ovarian cancer with non-clear cell, non-mucinous histology

Objective

This study was conducted to examine the effects of front-line chemotherapy on overall survival (OS) and postrecurrence survival (PRS) of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer, when stratifying the histologic type.

Methods

Five hundred and seventy-four patients with recurrent ovarian cancer with sufficient clinical information, including front-line chemotherapy, were analyzed. The pathologic slides were evaluated by central pathologic review. The patients were divided into two groups: group A (n=261), who underwent taxane plus platinum, and group B (n=313), who underwent conventional platinum-based chemotherapy without taxanes.

Results

The median age was 54 years (range, 14 to 89 years). Group A had significantly better median OS (45.0 months vs. 30.3 months, p<0.001) and PRS (23.0 months vs. 13.0 months, p<0.001) compared to group B. The OS and PRS were similar between the groups in patients with clear cell or mucinous histology. In contrast, among patients with non-clear cell, non-mucinous histologies, the OS and PRS of group A were significantly better than those of group B (OS, p<0.001; PRS, p<0.001). Multivariable analyses revealed that, among patients with non-clear cell, non-mucinous histologies, chemotherapy including taxane and platinum was an independent predictor of favorable survival outcomes. Conversely, in patients with clear cell or mucinous histology, taxane-including platinum-based combination chemotherapy did not improve the OS and PRS compared to a conventional platinum-based regimen which did not include taxanes.

Conclusion

Since the emergence of taxane plus platinum, the prognosis of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer has improved. However, we here demonstrate that this improvement is limited to patients with non-clear cell, non-mucinous histologies.

Ovarian cancer clinical trial endpoints: Society of Gynecologic Oncology white paper

OBJECTIVE

To explore the value of multiple clinical endpoints in the unique setting of ovarian cancer.

METHODS

A clinical trial workgroup was established by the Society of Gynecologic Oncology to develop a consensus statement via multiple conference calls, meetings and white paper drafts.

RESULTS

Clinical trial endpoints have profound effects on late phase clinical trial design, result interpretation, drug development, and regulatory approval of therapeutics. Selection of the optimal clinical trial endpoint is particularly provocative in ovarian cancer where long overall survival (OS) is observed. The lack of new regulatory approvals and the lack of harmony between regulatory bodies globally for ovarian cancer therapeutics are of concern. The advantages and disadvantages of the numerous endpoints available are herein discussed within the unique context of ovarian cancer where both crossover and post-progression therapies potentially uncouple surrogacy between progression-free survival (PFS) and OS, the two most widely supported and utilized endpoints. The roles of patient reported outcomes (PRO) and health related quality of life (HRQoL) are discussed, but even these widely supported parameters are affected by the unique characteristics of ovarian cancer where a significant percentage of patients may be asymptomatic. Original data regarding the endpoint preferences of ovarian cancer advocates is presented.

CONCLUSIONS

Endpoint selection in ovarian cancer clinical trials should reflect the impact on disease burden and unique characteristics of the treatment cohort while reflecting true patient benefit. Both OS and PFS have led to regulatory approvals and are clinically important. OS remains the most objective and accepted endpoint because it is least vulnerable to bias; however, the feasibility of OS in ovarian cancer is compromised by the requirement for large trial size, prolonged time-line for final analysis, and potential for unintended loss of treatment effect from active post-progression therapies. A large magnitude of effect in PFS improvement should establish benefit, and further communication with regulatory authorities to clarify acceptable endpoints should be undertaken.

Cytoreductive surgery after recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer and at other timepoints

In this descriptive review we look at the role of surgery for advanced ovarian cancer at other timepoints apart from the initial cytoreduction for front-line therapy or interval cytoreductive surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The chief surgical problem to face after primary treatment is recurrent ovarian cancer. Of far more marginal concern are the second-look surgical procedures or the palliative efforts intended to resolve the patient’s symptoms with no curative intent. The role of surgery in recurrent ovarian cancer remains poorly defined. Current data, albeit from non-randomized studies, nevertheless clearly support surgical cytoreduction in selected patients, a rarely curative expedient that invariably yields a marked survival advantage over chemotherapy alone. Despite these findings, some consider it too early to adopt secondary cytoreduction as the standard care for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer and a randomized study is needed. Two ongoing randomized trials (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Onkologie-Desktop III and Gynecologic Oncology Group 213) intend to verify the role of secondary cytoreduction for platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer compared with chemotherapy considered as standard care for these patients. We await the results of these two trials for a definitive answer to the matter.

Repeat cytoreductive surgery and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy may offer survival benefit for intraperitoneal mesothelioma: a single institution experience

INTRODUCTION

Cytoreduction with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has demonstrated improved overall survival (OS) in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM). The role of repeated HIPEC for MPM is less clear.

METHODS

An institutional review board-approved database of MPM patients was analyzed for clinical factors and outcomes.

RESULTS

From June 2004 to March 2012, 29 patients underwent surgical treatment for mesothelioma. HIPEC was aborted in 3 and completed in 26; 8 underwent additional repeat HIPEC. The majority was male (62 %), median age 66 years. There was no significant difference in surgery duration, blood loss, or hospital-stay-duration between initial and repeat HIPEC. Cisplatin was the chemotherapy used. Complications occurred in 17 (65 %) initial and 6 (50 %) repeat HIPEC, with wound complications being most common. Reoperation was less common (4 % initial and 25 % repeat), and perioperative death was rare (4 % initial, 0 % repeat). Fourteen (54 %) initial and seven (58 %) repeat HIPEC patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Median time from HIPEC to initiation of chemotherapy was not different between initial and repeat HIPEC (8.8 and 4.6 months, respectively, p = 0.68). Median treatment-free time (time from initial to repeat HIPEC or chemotherapy) also was not different between initial and repeat HIPEC (8.8 and 6.3 months, respectively, p = 0.92). Median OS for the cohort was 41.2 months. Patients who underwent repeat HIPEC had improved median OS (80 months) versus single HIPEC (27.2 months; p = 0.007). A lower peritoneal carcinoma index and complete cytoreduction were associated positively with OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Cytoreduction and HIPEC for MPM are associated with longer OS. Patients who are candidates for repeat HIPEC may derive an even greater OS advantage.

Secondary cytoreduction surgery improves prognosis in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer

Background

There is no consensus regarding the secondary cytoreduction surgery (CRS) in recurrent ovarian cancer patients. The present study aims to determine the value of secondary CRS and the eligible subgroup for this procedure.

Methods

96 platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer patients were recruited from Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research between 1992 and 2011. Follow-up was conducted based on the surveillance protocol of MD Anderson Cancer Center. Cox proportional hazards model and log-rank test were used to assess the associations between the survival durations and covariates. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore optimal secondary CRS related factors.

Results

Optimal secondary CRS was associated with time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) in patients (p < 0.01 both). Optimal secondary CRS and asymptomatic recurrent were similarly associated with longer OS (median: 79.2 vs. 53.9 and 76.1 vs. 56.0 months with p = 0.02 and p = 0.04, respectively) and TTP (median: 13.9 vs. 10.5 and 19.3 vs. 9.0 months with p = 0.02 and p = 0.03, respectively) than counterparts. Optimal initial CRS (p = 0.01), asymptomatic recurrent (p = 0.02) and longer progression-free survival duration (p = 0.02) were the independent indicators of optimal secondary CRS.

Conclusions

Optimal secondary CRS had survival benefit for platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer. Asymptomatic recurrent was one of the recruited factors for this procedure.

Surgery for relapsed ovarian cancer: when should it be offered?

Whilst cytoreductive surgery is the mainstay treatment for primary ovarian cancer, its role in relapse is still unclear. Surgery in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer might be beneficial if it results in complete resection of the disease. Clinical scores could help to identify suitable patients. Level I evidence is still missing; however, two randomized trials (DESKTOP III and GOG 213) are ongoing.

Latest research and treatment of advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer

The natural history of ovarian cancer continues to be characterized by late-stage presentation, metastatic bulky disease burden and stagnant mortality statistics, despite prolific drug development. Robust clinical investigation, particularly with modifications to primary treatment surgical goals and adjuvant therapy are increasing median progression-free survival and overall survival, although the cure rates have been affected only modestly. Maintenance therapy holds promise, but studies have yet to identify an agent and/or strategy that can affect survival. Recurrent disease is largely an incurable state; however, current intervention with selected surgery, combination and targeted therapy and investigational protocols are impacting progression-free survival. Ovarian cancer is a diverse and genomically complex disease, which commands global attention. Rational investigation must balance the high rate of discovery with lagging clinical investigation and limited patient resources. Nevertheless, growth in our armamentarium offers unprecedented opportunities for patients suffering with this disease. This Review presents and reviews the contemporary management of the disease spectrum termed epithelial 'ovarian' cancer and describes the direction and early results of clinical investigation.

Outcomes and patterns of secondary relapse in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer: implications for tertiary cytoreductive surgery

AIM

To evaluate the outcomes and patterns of patients with secondary relapsed ovarian cancer.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted. The cases comprised 83 patients who underwent tertiary cytoreductive surgery (TCS) followed by chemotherapy, whereas the controls consisted of 76 patients who received chemotherapy alone.

RESULTS

The median survival was 20 months in 159 patients. Patients with microscopic residual disease after TCS had a median survival of 32.9 months compared with 14.6 months in those with macroscopic residual disease [hazard ratio (HR), 2.82; P = 0.001) and 15.0 months in patients with chemotherapy alone (HR, 2.23; P = 0.001). When stratified by a progression-free interval (PFI) after secondary cytoreduction (SCR), TCS showed no benefit in patients with a PFI ≤12 months or a PFI >12 months compared with those with chemotherapy alone. TCS improved survival in patients with recurrent disease in the pelvis compared with those with recurrent disease in the middle or upper abdomen, with a median survival of 34.9 months and 14.6 months, respectively (HR, 2.94; P = 0.010). However, TCS was not a survival determinant by multivariate analysis. A multivariate analysis identified a PFI after SCR (≤12 mos vs. >12 mos; HR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.29-4.24; P = 0.005), mesenteric lymph node metastasis at SCR (yes vs. no; HR, 4.18; 95% CI, 1.93-9.03; P < 0.001) and treatment arms at secondary relapse (chemotherapy alone vs. TCS; HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.03-2.38; P = 0.037) as independent predictors of survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Limited survival benefit from tertiary cytoreductive surgery was observed in patients with platinum-sensitive secondary relapsed ovarian cancer.

Diaphragmatic surgery during cytoreduction for primary or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer: a review of the literature

PURPOSE

Surgical cytoreduction remains a cornerstone in the management of patients with advanced and recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Diaphragm involvement is a common site of metastases and represents a major limit in the achievement of an optimal cytoreduction. The purpose of this manuscript is to discuss the rationale of diaphragmatic surgery and the morbidity related to this procedure in advanced and recurrent EOC.

METHODS

A search of the National Library of Medicine's MEDLINE/PubMed database until August 2012 was performed using the keywords: 'diaphragmatic surgery' and 'ovarian cancer'.

RESULTS

Surgical treatment of diaphragmatic disease in advanced stage and recurrent EOC patients leads to high rates of optimal cytoreduction. It also correlates with an improved survival in advanced-stage EOC. The most common post-operative complication is a pleural effusion with rates ranging from 10 to 60 %. Pleural effusions are more common after diaphragmatic resections as compared to diaphragmatic stripping or coagulation. The need for post-operative thoracentesis or chest tube placement is low. The routine use of intraoperative trans-diaphragmatic decompression of pneumothorax reduces these rates. Diaphragmatic lesions at the time of interval debulking are less frequent and smaller in size. The morbidity of diaphragmatic surgery in this setting is lower as compared to a primary debulking; this is probably related to the fewer multivisceral radical procedures performed.

CONCLUSIONS

Diaphragmatic surgery at the time of cytoreduction increases rates of optimal cytoreduction and improves survival in advanced-stage and recurrent EOC patients. Gynecologic oncologists should be confident with its indication, technique and morbidity.

Significance of vascular endothelial growth factor in growth and peritoneal dissemination of ovarian cancer

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key regulator of angiogenesis which drives endothelial cell survival, proliferation, and migration while increasing vascular permeability. Playing an important role in the physiology of normal ovaries, VEGF has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. Essentially by promoting tumor angiogenesis and enhancing vascular permeability, VEGF contributes to the development of peritoneal carcinomatosis associated with malignant ascites formation, the characteristic feature of advanced ovarian cancer at diagnosis. In both experimental and clinical studies, VEGF levels have been inversely correlated with survival. Moreover, VEGF inhibition has been shown to inhibit tumor growth and ascites production and to suppress tumor invasion and metastasis. These findings have laid the basis for the clinical evaluation of agents targeting VEGF signaling pathway in patients with ovarian cancer. In this review, we will focus on VEGF involvement in the pathophysiology of ovarian cancer and its contribution to the disease progression and dissemination.