Adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy for borderline serous ovarian tumors with invasive implants

Prognosis and Prognostic Factors of Serous Borderline Tumor-Micropapillary Variant: Retrospective Study of 200 Patients with Long-Term Follow-Up

Objective

To determine the oncofertility outcomes and prognostic factors in a large series of serous borderline ovarian tumor-micropapillary variant (SBOT-M) with a long-term follow-up.

Methods

Consecutive patients with SBOT-Ms treated from two affiliated hospitals of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were retrospectively reviewed. Prognostic factors on invasive recurrence, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival were analyzed, and outcomes of patients treated with conservative and radical surgery were compared.

Results

From 2000 to 2020, 200 patients were identified and followed. After a median follow-up of 68 months, 81 patients relapsed. In the multivariate analyses, younger age at diagnosis and conservative surgery that preserved fertility potential were independently associated with worse DFS (p = 0.018 and <0.001, respectively). Twenty-three patients experienced invasive recurrence, and seven died of progressive disease. Multivariate analysis showed that nulliparous and advanced FIGO stage were independently adversely associated with lethal recurrence (p = 0.022 and 0.029, respectively). Only advanced FIGO stage at diagnosis was associated with worse overall survival at univariate analysis (p = 0.02). Among 61 patients attempting conception, 37 achieved 44 pregnancies and resulted in 32 live births.

Conclusions

In this series, patients with SBOT-M have an acceptable oncofertility outcomes. The use of conservative surgery was independently associated with worse DFS, but without an impact on neither invasive relapse nor on overall survival. Patients with advanced FIGO stages had a significantly higher risk of lethal recurrence and worse overall survival, suggesting that adequate staging surgery and intensive postoperative surveillance should be warranted.

Fertility-Sparing Surgery for Ovarian Cancer

(1) Background: although most patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) undergo radical surgery, patients with early-stage disease, borderline ovarian tumor (BOT) or a non-epithelial tumor could be offered fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) depending on histologic subtypes and prognostic factors. (2) Methods: we conducted a systematic review to assess the safety and fertility outcomes of FSS in the treatment of ovarian cancer. We queried the MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Cochrane (“Cochrane Reviews”) databases for articles published in English or French between 1985 and 15 January 2021. (3) Results: for patients with BOT, FSS should be offered to young women with a desire to conceive, even if peritoneal implants are discovered at the time of initial surgery. Women with mucinous BOT should undergo initial unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, whereas cystectomy is an acceptable option for women with serous BOT. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) can be initiated in patients with stage I BOT if infertility persists after surgery. For patients with EOC, FSS should only be considered after staging for women with stage IA grade 1 (and probably 2, or low-grade in the current classification) serous, mucinous or endometrioid tumors. FSS could also be offered to patients with stage IC grade 1 (or low-grade) disease. For women with serous, mucinous or endometrioid high-grade stage IA or low-grade stage IC1 or IC2 EOC, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and uterine conservation could be offered to allow pregnancy by egg donation. Finally, FSS has a large role to play in patients with non- epithelial ovarian cancer, and particularly women with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors.

Oncofertility outcomes after fertility-sparing treatment of bilateral serous borderline ovarian tumors: results of a large retrospective study

STUDY QUESTION

What are the oncofertility outcomes of young women (≤40 years old) with bilateral serous borderline ovarian tumors (SBOTs) after fertility-sparing surgery?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Fertility preservation with the bilateral ovarian cystectomy procedure is feasible for bilateral SBOTs, with an acceptable oncological outcome and worthwhile pregnancy rates.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Fertility-sparing approaches are becoming the standard management of young patients with unilateral SBOTs and other borderline histological subtypes. However, there is a paucity of evidence to dictate the best management in bilateral SBOTs.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This was a retrospective observational study performed at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing, China, between January 1999 and January 2019.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Ninety-four women (≤40 years old) with pathologically confirmed bilateral SBOTs were included. Following preoperative counseling, patients self-selected into one of three treatment modalities: bilateral ovarian cystectomy (n = 48), unilateral adnexectomy plus contralateral cystectomy (UAC; n = 31), and radical surgery (n = 15). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the clinical and pathological features associated with disease-free survival and reproductive outcomes.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

During the median follow-up of 64 months (range, 4-243 months), 61 patients (65%) developed relapse, including 3 (20%) in the radical group, 26 (84%) in the UAC group and 32 (67%) in the bilateral cystectomy group. In the multivariate analyses, preoperative CA-125>300 U/mL, fertility preservation and micropapillary pattern were independently associated with adverse disease-free survival (P = 0.001, 0.03 and 0.026, respectively). Fourteen patients (15%) experienced invasive recurrence, and three (3%) died of progressive disease. The micropapillary pattern was significantly associated with invasive evolution risk (P = 0.006). Of the 49 patients who attempted to conceive, 23 (47%) achieved 27 pregnancies (24 spontaneous and three after IVF-ET), resulting in 19 live births. There was no significant difference in disease-free survival (P = 0.13) or pregnancy rate (41 vs. 50%, P = 0.56) between the UAC and bilateral procedures.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

As a retrospective study conducted in a referral center, inherent biases exist. The nonrandom allocation to treatment groups and relatively small number of patients attempt to conceive might limit the statistical power of our findings. Only 41 patients (43.6%) received complete staging during their initial surgeries, so an underestimation bias in terms of the FIGO stage and extraovarian implants might have occurred.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

The ultraconservative bilateral ovarian cystectomy procedure should be proposed in bilateral SBOTs when technically feasible. Invasive evolution occurs frequently in these women, and intense follow-up and oncofertility counseling are warranted, especially for those with micropapillary patterns.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

No external funding was used for this study. There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

Long term follow-up of a large series of stage-II/III atypical proliferative serous ovarian tumors

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess prognostic factors and implications on further management in a large series of stage-II or III Atypical Proliferative Serous Tumors (APST) with a long-term follow-up.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with APSTs and peritoneal implants treated in, or referred to, our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Prognostic factors on invasive recurrence, disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed.

RESULTS

Between 1971 and 2017, 212 patients were identified and followed (33 having invasive implants). After a median follow-up of 115 months, 70 recurrences were observed, 28 of them under the form of invasive disease. DFS at 5 years and 10 years was 73% and 62% respectively. The use of a conservative treatment (HR = 5.5[3.33-9.08], p < .0001), the presence of ≥3 peritoneal sites with implants (HR = 1.65[1.01-2.72], p = .045) were unfavorable prognostic factors for DFS. The presence of ≥3 peritoneal sites with implants (HR = 3.02[0.96-9.53], p = .049) and the presence of stromal microinvasion (HR = 3.19[1.12-9.1], p = .022) were unfavorable prognostic factors for OS. Non-conservative surgery (HR = 7[2.35-20.87], p = .0002), invasive implants (HR = 5.37[1.29-22.26], p = .013), and ≥ 3 peritoneal sites with implants (HR = 3.56 [1.11-11.39], p = .024) were identified as predictors of recurrence in the form of an invasive disease. Invasive implants were not associated with DFS (HR = 1.39[0.77-2.51], p = .27), nor OS (HR = 1.76[0.57-5.47], p = .32).

CONCLUSION

After a long-term follow-up, type of peritoneal implants is no longer a prognostic factor for OS. Implants ≥3 peritoneal sites seem to impact significantly OS and then require a specific follow-up in this subgroup of patients.

[Borderline Ovarian Tumours: CNGOF Guidelines for Clinical Practice - Surgical Management of Advanced Stages of Borderline Ovarian Tumours]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the surgical management of borderline ovarian tumors (BOT) in the framework of recommendations for clinical practice made by the National College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (CNGOF) METHODS: This is a comprehensive review of the literature on the advanced stages of BOT. Bibliographic selection was conducted in PubMed from 2007 to 2019 inclusive, selecting publications in English and French. Articles were selected on the basis of the title, then the abstract and finally the full article. The levels of evidence of the studies were defined according to the scale proposed by the High Authority of Health (HAS).

RESULTS

By analogy with epithelial ovarian cancer, in case of preoperative suspicion or after a postoperative diagnosis of advanced BOT, the patient must be referred to an expert centre in ovarian cancer (gradeC). There is no data from the literature to conclude that a hysterectomy should be performed routinely, however, the goal in the advanced stages of BOT is no tumor residue (gradeC). In advanced stages of BOT, systematic lymphadenectomy is not recommended, but excision of suspected lymph node on preoperative and intraoperative evaluation, for curative purposes, may be discussed to obtain no residual disease (gradeC). It is recommended to describe peritoneal carcinomatosis before any excision as well as tumor residues at the end of surgery (grade B). The use of a peritoneal carcinomatosis score to evaluate tumor burden such as the "Peritoneal Carcinosis Index" (PCI) is recommended (gradeC). For advanced stages of BOT, a conservative treatment with at least the preservation of the uterus and an ovarian fragment in a patient wishing a pregnancy may be proposed after Multidisciplinary Concertation Meeting (GradeC). Contralateral ovary biopsy is not recommended in advanced stage BOT (GradeC) but restaging surgery associated with removal of all tumor lesions is recommended when not performed initially (GradeC). It is not possible to make a recommendation on chemotherapy indication in advanced stages even with invasive implants.

CONCLUSION

The weakness of the literature and the retrospective nature of BOT advanced stage studies limit the grade of the recommendations.

ESMO-ESGO consensus conference recommendations on ovarian cancer: pathology and molecular biology, early and advanced stages, borderline tumours and recurrent disease

The development of guidelines is one of the core activities of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and European Society of Gynaecologial Oncology (ESGO), as part of the mission of both societies to improve the quality of care for patients with cancer across Europe. ESMO and ESGO jointly developed clinically relevant and evidence-based recommendations in several selected areas in order to improve the quality of care for women with ovarian cancer. The ESMO-ESGO consensus conference on ovarian cancer was held on April 12-14, 2018 in Milan, Italy, and comprised a multidisciplinary panel of 40 leading experts in the management of ovarian cancer. Before the conference, the expert panel worked on five clinically relevant questions regarding ovarian cancer relating to each of the following four areas: pathology and molecular biology, early-stage and borderline tumours, advanced stage disease and recurrent disease. Relevant scientific literature, as identified using a systematic search, was reviewed in advance. During the consensus conference, the panel developed recommendations for each specific question and a consensus was reached. The recommendations presented here are thus based on the best available evidence and expert agreement. This article presents the recommendations of this ESMO-ESGO consensus conference, together with a summary of evidence supporting each recommendation.

ESMO-ESGO consensus conference recommendations on ovarian cancer: pathology and molecular biology, early and advanced stages, borderline tumours and recurrent disease†

The development of guidelines recommendations is one of the core activities of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and European Society of Gynaecologial Oncology (ESGO), as part of the mission of both societies to improve the quality of care for patients with cancer across Europe. ESMO and ESGO jointly developed clinically relevant and evidence-based recommendations in several selected areas in order to improve the quality of care for women with ovarian cancer. The ESMO-ESGO consensus conference on ovarian cancer was held on 12-14 April 2018 in Milan, Italy, and comprised a multidisciplinary panel of 40 leading experts in the management of ovarian cancer. Before the conference, the expert panel worked on five clinically relevant questions regarding ovarian cancer relating to each of the following four areas: pathology and molecular biology, early-stage and borderline tumours, advanced stage disease and recurrent disease. Relevant scientific literature, as identified using a systematic search, was reviewed in advance. During the consensus conference, the panel developed recommendations for each specific question and a consensus was reached. The recommendations presented here are thus based on the best available evidence and expert agreement. This article presents the recommendations of this ESMO-ESGO consensus conference, together with a summary of evidence supporting each recommendation.

Tumors of low malignant potential a single institution experience

•

The tumors of low malignant potential are an independent group of ovarian epithelial tumors.

•

The overall survival at 5 and 10 years was respectively of 96,9% and 92,8%.

•

After a mean follow up of 10 years, we report 7 cases of locoregional relapse.

•

After conservative surgery two patients achieved full term pregnancies.

•

More studies are required for a higher grade of recommendation.

Background

The tumors of low malignant potential are an independent group of the ovarian epithelial tumors. They represents 10–20% of all ovarian epithelial tumors.

Our aim through this study to determine how to treat this disease in the most suitable way.

Methods

A retrospective study involving 73 patients diagnosed with TLMP and treated at our Institute between September 1975 and June 2010.

Results

The median age was 49 years. In 33% of the cases, the patients were younger than 40 years. Our study included 38 mucinous tumors, 30 serous and 5 mixed. The tumors were stage I in 69% of the cases, stage II in 11% and stage III in 20%.

All patients had surgery as a primary treatment. The surgery was radical in 77% of the cases. Five patients had an adjuvant chemotherapy. After a mean follow up of 10 years, we reported 7 cases of local relapses. The prognostic factors for a disease free survival were: the stage of the tumor and the presence of invasive implants. The overall survival at 5 and 10 years was respectively of 96.9% and 92.8%. The prognostic factors for overall survival were: the age, the stage, the existence of a residual tumor, the presence of pseudomyxoma or peritoneal implants. After having a conservative surgery two patients achieved full term pregnancies.

Conclusion

Randomized studies are required to back-up our findings and give a higher grade of recommendation to the actual standard of care.

The safety of fertility and ipsilateral ovary procedures for borderline ovarian tumors

Objective

To explore the optimal treatment options for women with borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs).

Materials and Methods

The medical records of consecutive patients with BOTs in two academic institutions were retrospectively collected. The pertinent data, including clinicopathological characteristics and, treatment and prognostic information were evaluated.

Results

A total of 281 cases of BOTs were included in this analysis. For the entire series, the 5- year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 91.8% and 98.5%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, reservation of the ipsilateral ovary (HR: 0.104 [95% CI, 0.036–0.304], p = 0.000) and FIGO stage II–III (HR: 6.811 [95% CI, 2.700–17.181], p = 0.000) were the independent risk factors for recurrence. Ovarian surface involvement (HR: 64.996 [95% CI, 4.054–1041.941], p = 0.003) was the only independent prognostic factor for OS. Lymphadenectomy and adjunct chemotherapy had no significant impact on patients’ recurrence and survival (recurrence: p = 0.332 and 0.290, respectively, survival: p = 0.896 and 0.216, respectively).

Conclusions

Fertility-sparing surgery with healthy ovarian preservation seems safe and feasible for young women who prefer fertility-sparing treatment. Ovarian cystectomy to conserve the affected ovary/ovaries without ovarian surface involvement may be cautiously performed under fully informed consent for young women with bilateral BOTs who strongly prefer fertility-sparing treatment and have no evidence of infertility. However, long-term follow-up is necessary due to the relapse susceptibility of the ovary.

The Factors Predicting Recurrence in Patients With Serous Borderline Ovarian Tumor

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the characteristics, recurrence rates, survival, and factors associated with survival of patients with serous borderline ovarian tumor (BOT) who were operated on in a single institution. Our secondary goal was to evaluate the necessity of staging surgery and the importance of a comprehensive lymphadenectomy in these patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The patients who were diagnosed in our institution between January 1990 and April 2014 with a final diagnosis of serous BOT were evaluated retrospectively. Kaplan-Meier method was used for analysis of progression-free survival (PFS). Univariate Cox proportional hazards model and log rank test were used for analysis of continuous and categorical variables affecting survival, respectively.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-one (75%) patients underwent staging surgery. Stage I disease was observed in 63%, stage III was observed in 11% of the patients, and only 0.6% of patients had stage II disease. Among 162 patients, 72 patients (44%) had conservative surgery. Eight (4.9%) patients had recurrence, one of which was invasive. All recurrences were in the patients who had conservative surgery. Median follow-up of the patients was 57 months (range, 37-270 years). Five- and 10-year PFS rates were 94.9% and 92.8%, respectively. In the univariate analysis of patients with serous BOT, PFS was worse in the presence of positive para-aortic lymph nodes, positive abdominal cytology, and conservative surgery (P = 0.008, P < 0.001, P = 0.007, respectively). The patients having noninvasive implant and advanced-stage disease had a tendency to have worse PFS (P = 0.067, P = 0.069, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Staging surgery generally gives us an idea of the probability of recurrence but not an idea of overall survival. Therefore, staging surgery including lymphadenectomy could be suggested to have information about the probability of recurrence and to be able to detect patients with an invasive implant that is the only probable factor affecting overall survival.

Fertility-sparing surgery for young patients with borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs): single institution experience

BACKGROUND

Fertility-sparing surgery for patients with borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) is still controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the oncological safety and fertility benefits in conservative surgery,as well as efficiency of surgical procedures and approaches.

RESULTS

In total 122 patients with BOTs, four types of fertility-sparing surgery were performed: unilateral adnexectomy (UA, n = 47), unilateral cystectomy (UC, n = 59), unilateral adnexectomy + contralateral cystectomy (UA + CC, n = 7) and bilateral cystectomy (BC, n = 9). Fifty-two (42.6 %) patients had undergone laparoscopy, while 70 (57.4 %) had undergone laparotomy. After a median follow-up of 58.0 months, eight patients (6.6 %) relapsed in average of 25.9 months. Only one patient progressed to invasive cancer. None died within our observational period. Univariate analysis showed that patients with elevated CA125, bilateral tumors, extra-ovary tumor or mucinous type tended to replase in shorter time (p < 0.05). Among all cases, 45 patients attempted to conceive and 34 (75.6 %) patients had successful pregnancy. The recurrence rates were successively increased (2.1 %, 6.8 %, 14.3 %, and 22.2 %), the recurrence interval were shortened (48.0, 25.3, 26.0 and 21.2 months) and the subsequent fertility rates were 76.9 %, 77.3 %, 66.7 % and 71.4 % in UA, UC, UA + CC, and BC groups, respectively. As for surgical approaches, three patients (5.8 %) relapsed in 26.3 months in the laparoscopy group and five (7.1 %) in 25.5 months in the laparotomy group. The subsequent fertility rate was higher in laparoscopy group (88.9 %) than in laparotomy group (66.7 %). In our study, 38 patients underwent staging surgery. Two patients (5.3 %) recurrent in average of 21.0 months, and the subsequent pregnancy rate of staging surgery group was 61.5 %. Twelve patients received adjuvant chemotherapy but they didn't get any benefit from it, both in term of recurrence (8.3 %, 26.0 months) and subsequent pregnancy rate (75.5 %).

CONCLUSION

Fertility-sparing surgery is safe and beneficial for most young BOTs. UA through laparoscopy should be recommended as the first choice. To the patients with bilateral tumors, elevated CA125, extra-ovary tumor or mucinous type, conservative surgery should be carefully chosen and subsequent pregnancy should be attempted in short term. In addition, the benefit of comprehensive surgical staging is to be further investigated and adjuvant chemotherapy is not recommended.

Serous and mucinous borderline ovarian tumours: differences in clinical presentation, high-risk histopathological features, and lethal recurrence rates

BACKGROUND

Mucinous and serous borderline ovarian tumours (mBOTs and sBOTs) are controversial diseases.

OBJECTIVES

With this systematic review we aim to evaluate the different high-risk histopathological features and recurrence rates.

SEARCH STRATEGY

The PubMed database was searched using two terms: {serous AND [(borderline) OR (low malignant potential)] AND ovarian AND tumour} and {mucinous AND [(borderline) OR (low malignant potential)] AND ovarian AND tumour}.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Cohorts of either sBOT or mBOT, peer-reviewed, retrospective, or prospective.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Lethal recurrence data for micropapillary patterns (MPs), microinvasion, non-invasive and invasive implants, and intraepithelial carcinoma (IECA). The primary measure of effect was the odds ratio of lethal recurrence reduction.

RESULTS

Data from patients in 42 studies including 4414 sBOTs and 12 studies including 894 mBOTs were pooled. Of these, 53.3% presented early-stage typical sBOTs, 24.4% presented with MPs, 22.3% presented with microinvasion, 34.4% presented with non-invasive implants, and 7.3% presented with invasive implants. The pooled lethal recurrence rates were, respectively: 18.3, 16.8, 10.7, 16.2, and 33.8%. Patients with MPs were more likely to suffer lethal recurrence when compared with high-stage sBOTs (odds ratio, OR 0.501; P = 0.003), whereas the trend in microinvasive sBOTs did not reach statistical significance. Regarding mBOTs, 61.6% presented with early-stage typical mBOTs, 19.6% presented with microinvasion, 34.8% presented with IECA, and six patients presented with non-invasive implants; none presented with invasive implants. The lethal recurrence rates were, respectively: 3.6, 0, 3.7, and 0%.

CONCLUSION

Micropapillary patterns (MPs) showed a higher risk for lethal recurrence when compared with high-stage sBOTs. Regarding mBOTs, IECA and microinvasion do not play a role in the lethal recurrence rate.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Micropapillary pattern confirmed as high-risk in BOT. IECA and microinvasion don't play a role in mucinous BOT.

Safety of ovarian conservation and fertility preservation in advanced borderline ovarian tumors

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of a fertility-sparing approach on disease recurrence in women with advanced borderline ovarian tumors.

DESIGN

Historic cohort study.

SETTING

A tertiary referral center for gynecological oncology patients and a university teaching hospital.

PATIENT(S)

Consecutive patients with advanced borderline ovarian tumors defined as stage IC and above, treated at a single institution during a span of 30 years.

INTERVENTION(S)

Data on surgical approach (e.g., fertility sparing, ovarian conserving) as well as histopathology, disease stage, CA-125 level, and use of chemotherapy were collected from the medical records, and their impact on disease recurrence was assessed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Recurrence-free interval. Its association with the type of surgery and with other clinical and pathological features was assessed using the Kaplan Meier and Cox proportional hazards methods.

RESULT(S)

Fifty-nine patients with advanced disease were identified. Median follow-up was 55.3 months. Mean age at diagnosis was 35 years. Most of the tumors (51, 84.4%) had serous histology. Twenty-seven patients (45.8%) developed recurrences and 6 (10%) died of their disease. Mean time to recurrence was 30.6 months. Of 44 women ≤40 years, 33 (75%) had a fertility-sparing procedure. Fertility preservation was not associated with disease recurrence. A total of 34 pregnancies and 26 live births were documented among 21 patients attempting conception.

CONCLUSION(S)

Borderline ovarian tumors carry a favorable prognosis, even at an advanced stage. Fertility preservation was not found to be associated with an increased risk of relapse in young patients with advanced disease, and may be reasonably considered.

Fertility sparing treatment in borderline ovarian tumours

Borderline ovarian tumours are low malignant potential tumours. They represent 10-15% of all epithelial ovarian malignancies. Patients with this type of tumour are younger at the time of diagnosis than patients with invasive ovarian cancer. Most of them are diagnosed in the early stages and have an excellent prognosis. It has been quite clearly established that the majority of borderline ovarian tumours should be managed with surgery alone. Because a high proportion of women with this malignancy are young and the prognosis is excellent, the preservation of fertility is an important issue in the management of these tumours. In this systemic review of the literature, we have evaluated in-depth oncological safety and reproductive outcomes in women with borderline ovarian tumours treated with fertility-sparing surgery, reviewing the indications, benefits, and disadvantages of each type of conservative surgery, as well as new alternative options to surgery to preserve fertility.

A meta-analysis on the impact of platinum-based adjuvant treatment on the outcome of borderline ovarian tumors with invasive implants

BACKGROUND

Treatment of borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) remains contentious, and there is no consensus regarding therapy for BOTs with invasive implants (BOTi). The benefits of platinum-based adjuvant treatment were evaluated in patients with BOTi at primary diagnosis.

METHODS

The PubMed database was systematically searched for articles using the following terms: ((borderline) OR (low malignant potential) AND (ovarian)) AND ((tumor) OR (cancer)) AND (invasive implants) AND ((follow-up) OR (survival) OR (treatment) OR (chemotherapy) OR (adjuvant treatment) OR (surgery) OR (surgical treatment)).

RESULTS

We identified 27 articles including 3,124 patients, 181 with invasive implants. All studies provided information regarding mortality or recurrence rates. Central pathological examination was performed in 19 studies. Eight studies included more than 75% stage I patients; 7 included only advanced-stage patients, and 14 included only serous BOT. The pooled recurrence estimates for both treatment groups (adjuvant treatment: 44.0%, upfront surgery: 21.3%) did not differ significantly (p = .114). A meta-analysis of the 6 studies providing separate mortality data for both treatment groups favored surgical treatment only, but this difference did not reach statistical significance (.05 < p < .1; odds ratio: 0.33; 95% confidence interval: 0.09-1.71; p = .086). We were unable to pool the results of the included studies because not all studies registered events in both treatment groups. Egger's regression indicated low asymmetry of the studies (p = .39), and no heterogeneity was found (I(2) = 0%).

CONCLUSION

We did not find evidence supporting platinum-based adjuvant therapy for BOT with invasive implants.

Limited efficacy of platinum-based adjuvant treatment on the outcome of borderline ovarian tumors

Adjuvant treatment of borderline ovarian tumors (BOT) remains highly debatable. This article evaluates the benefits of platinum-based adjuvant treatment in patients with BOT. The PubMed and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for articles using the terms ((Borderline) OR (low malignant potential) AND (ovarian)) AND ((tumor) OR (cancer)) AND ((follow-up) OR (survival) OR (treatment) OR (chemotherapy) OR (adjuvant treatment)). We identified 31 articles including 4965 patients. Together, 592 patients presented non-invasive-, 244 invasive- and 77 unspecified implants. Central pathological examination was performed in 23 studies. Nine studies included more than 90% stage I patients, while 11 included only advanced stage patients. Nineteen studies reported patients undergoing complete cytoreduction, ten reported response rates and eight compared survival outcomes. All studies provided information regarding either mortality or recurrence rates. A meta-analysis of the 13 studies providing separate mortality data for both treatment groups, including 2206 women, favored surgical treatment only (OR=7.44; 95% CI=3.39-16.32; p<0.0005) albeit with moderate heterogeneity of the studies (I(2)=35.0%) but no asymmetry (Egger's test p=0.44). Regarding survival data, 4 studies reported no difference between groups. In the adjuvant setting, 4 reported worse outcome and 1 reported a nonsignificant trend to worse outcome. At present, there is no evidence to support the use of adjuvant treatment in patients with BOT.

Aromatase inhibition in relapsing low malignant potential serous tumours of the ovary

Low malignant potential serous tumours (LMPSTs) of the ovary represent an indolent disease, with an excellent prognosis in a majority of patients. Patients with recurrent LMPSTs tend to develop widespread disease with a mortality rate as high as 70%. These tumours tend to have a very poor response to standard chemotherapy, and the management of primary and recurrent disease beyond surgical resection is not well defined. The majority of LMPST have been reported to express oestrogen and progesterone hormone receptors. However, only three reported cases of antihormonal treatment in this setting, and only one using aromatase inhibitors (AI), have been previously reported. We herein report long-term complete remission of two patients with relapsed, chemotherapy-resistant LMPSTs, treated with long-term AI (anastrozole 1 mg daily) as per negative MRI and positron emission tomography scans. Our results warrant further investigation for the use of AIs for metastatic recurrent LMPSTs.