Optimal timing of interval debulking surgery for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: A retrospective study from the ESME national cohort

Neoadjuvant and adjuvant pembrolizumab in advanced high-grade serous carcinoma: the randomized phase II NeoPembrOV clinical trial

This open-label, non-comparative, 2:1 randomized, phase II trial (NCT03275506) in women with stage IIIC/IV high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) for whom upfront complete resection was unachievable assessed whether adding pembrolizumab (200 mg every 3 weeks) to standard-of-care carboplatin plus paclitaxel yielded a complete resection rate (CRR) of at least 50%. Postoperatively patients continued assigned treatment for a maximum of 2 years. Postoperative bevacizumab was optional. The primary endpoint was independently assessed CRR at interval debulking surgery. Secondary endpoints were Completeness of Cytoreduction Index (CCI) and peritoneal cancer index (PCI) scores, objective and best response rates, progression-free survival, overall survival, safety, postoperative morbidity, and pathological complete response. The CRR in 61 pembrolizumab-treated patients was 74% (one-sided 95% CI = 63%), exceeding the prespecified ≥50% threshold and meeting the primary objective. The CRR without pembrolizumab was 70% (one-sided 95% CI = 54%). In the remaining patients CCI scores were ≥3 in 27% of the standard-of-care group and 18% of the investigational group and CC1 in 3% of the investigational group. PCI score decreased by a mean of 9.6 in the standard-of-care group and 10.2 in the investigational group. Objective response rates were 60% and 72%, respectively, and best overall response rates were 83% and 90%, respectively. Progression-free survival was similar with the two regimens (median 20.8 versus 19.4 months in the standard-of-care versus investigational arms, respectively) but overall survival favored pembrolizumab-containing therapy (median 35.3 versus 49.8 months, respectively). The most common grade ≥3 adverse events with pembrolizumab-containing therapy were anemia during neoadjuvant therapy and infection/fever postoperatively. Pembrolizumab was discontinued prematurely because of adverse events in 23% of pembrolizumab-treated patients. Combining pembrolizumab with neoadjuvant chemotherapy is feasible for HGSC considered not completely resectable; observed activity in some subgroups justifies further evaluation to improve understanding of the role of immunotherapy in HGSC.

Comparison of Recurrence and Survival Between Patients with Pathological Stage I Epithelial Ovarian Cancer After Laparoscopic or Laparotomic Surgery: Retrospective Analysis of a Propensity-Matched Cohort

OBJECTIVE

To compare oncologic outcomes after laparoscopic or laparotomic surgery to treat epithelial ovarian carcinoma in FIGO Stage I.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Gynecological cancer ward in a tertiary hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 85 patients with FIGO Stage I epithelial ovarian carcinoma who underwent laparoscopic staging surgery and 206 who underwent laparotomic staging surgery at West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2019.

INTERVENTIONS

Laparoscopic surgery or laparotomic staging surgery.

RESULTS

Before propensity score-based matching, the laparotomy group showed higher prevalence of preoperative elevated CA125 level (48.5% vs 35.3%, p = .045) and tumors >15 cm (27.2% vs 5.9%, p <.001). Multivariate analysis associated higher body mass index with better overall survival (adjusted HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.70-0.99, p = .043). Among propensity score-matched patients (82 per group) who were matched to each other according to propensity scoring based on age, body mass index, CA125 level, largest tumor diameter, FIGO stage, history of abdominal surgery, and American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, the rate of progression-free survival at 5 years was similar between the laparoscopy group (87.1%, 95% CI 79.3-95.7%) and the laparotomy group (90.9%, 95% CI 84.7-97.6%, p = .524), as was the rate of overall survival at 5 years (93.9%, 95% CI 88.0-100.0% vs 94.7%, 95% CI 89.8-99.9%, p = .900). Regardless of whether patients were matched, the two groups showed similar rates of recurrence of 9-11% during follow-up lasting a median of 54.9 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Rates of recurrence and survival may be similar between laparoscopy or laparotomy to treat Stage I epithelial ovarian cancer. Since laparoscopy is associated with less bleeding and faster recovery, it may be a safe, effective alternative to laparotomy for appropriate patients.

Radical Oophorectomy for Advanced Ovarian Cancer: A Feasibility Study from Tertiary Care Cancer Centre in Eastern India

Background

Radical oophorectomy was first performed by Hudson in order to remove an "intact ovarian tumour lodged in the pelvis, with the entire peritoneum remaining attached". We report 16 cases of radical oophorectomy done at our institute in the past 3 years and have analysed the perioperative morbidity as well as feasibility of performing the surgery without much of perioperative complication.

Methods

Twenty-three patients with advanced ovarian cancer who underwent modified en bloc pelvic resection at our institute, between November 2018 and October 2021, were initially enrolled. Patients below 70 years, resectable disease on CT scan and no significant comorbidities were included. Exclusion criteria were extra-abdominal metastasis, secondary cancers or complete intestinal obstruction. Initially, 23 patients were enrolled out of which seven patients were excluded. Hence, a total of 16 patients with ovarian cancer extensively infiltrating into nearby pelvic organs and peritoneum were included. In Type 1 radical oophorectomy, retrograde modified radical hysterectomy alongwith in toto removal of the bilateral adnexae, pelvic cul-de-sac and affected pelvic peritoneum is done. Type 2 radical oophorectomy includes total parietal and visceral pelvic peritonectomy as well as an en bloc resection of the rectosigmoid colon below the peritoneal reflection.

Results

Radical oophorectomy is feasible with acceptable complication rate. In our study, only one patient had burst abdomen that too due to the poor nutritional status of the patient. There was no surgery-related deaths, but one patient succumbed to pulmonary embolism 5 days after the operation.

Conclusion

Hence, radical oophorectomy proves to be an effective, feasible and secure surgical technique in cases of advanced ovarian malignancies with extensive involvement of peritoneum, pelvis and visceras.

Comparing niraparib versus platinum-taxane doublet chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment in patients with newly diagnosed homologous recombination-deficient stage III/IV ovarian cancer: study protocol for cohort C of the open-label, phase 2, randomized controlled multicenter OPAL trial

BACKGROUND

Maintenance therapy with niraparib, a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor, has been shown to extend progression-free survival in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer who responded to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, regardless of biomarker status. However, there are limited data on niraparib's efficacy and safety in the neoadjuvant setting. The objective of Cohort C of the OPAL trial (OPAL-C) is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of neoadjuvant niraparib treatment compared with neoadjuvant platinum-taxane doublet chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed stage III/IV ovarian cancer with confirmed homologous recombination-deficient tumors.

METHODS

OPAL is an ongoing global, multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase 2 trial. In OPAL-C, patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive three 21-day cycles of either neoadjuvant niraparib or platinum-taxane doublet neoadjuvant chemotherapy per standard of care. Patients with a complete or partial response per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST v1.1) will then undergo interval debulking surgery; patients with stable disease may proceed to interval debulking surgery or alternative therapy at the investigator's discretion. Patients with disease progression will exit the study treatment and proceed to alternative therapy at the investigator's discretion. After interval debulking surgery, all patients will receive up to three 21-day cycles of platinum-taxane doublet chemotherapy followed by niraparib maintenance therapy for up to 36 months. Adult patients with newly diagnosed stage III/IV ovarian cancer eligible to receive neoadjuvant platinum-taxane doublet chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery may be enrolled. Patients must have tumors that are homologous recombination-deficient. The primary endpoint is the pre-interval debulking surgery unconfirmed overall response rate, defined as the investigator-assessed percentage of patients with unconfirmed complete or partial response on study treatment before interval debulking surgery per RECIST v1.1.

DISCUSSION

OPAL-C explores the use of niraparib in the neoadjuvant setting as an alternative to neoadjuvant platinum-taxane doublet chemotherapy to improve postsurgical residual disease outcomes for patients with ovarian cancer with homologous recombination-deficient tumors. Positive findings from this approach could significantly impact preoperative ovarian cancer therapy, particularly for patients who are ineligible for primary debulking surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03574779. Registered on February 28, 2022.

3-4 Cycles versus 6 Cycles Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Advanced-Stage Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Survival Is Not Determined by the Number of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Cycles

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to compare the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients who underwent interval cytoreductive surgery after 3-4 cycles or 6 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer patients.

METHODS

Out of 219 patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer, 123 patients received 3-4 cycles and 96 patients received 6 cycles of platinum-based NACT. Afterward, laparotomy was performed for interval cytoreductive surgery.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference was found for DFS and OS of the patients who received 3-4 cycles and those who received 6 cycles of NACT (HR: 1.047, 95.0% CI [0.779-1.407]; p: 0.746 for DFS, and HR: 1.181, 95.0% CI [0.818-1.707]; p: 0.368 for OS). Evaluating 123 patients who received 3-4 cycles of NACT, 87 patients (70.7%) without macroscopic residual tumor after interval cytoreductive surgery had significantly longer DFS and OS compared to 36 patients (29.3%) with any residual tumor (HR: 1.830, 95.0% CI [1.194-2.806]; p: 0.003 for DFS, and HR: 1.946, 95.0% CI [1.166-3.250]; p: 0.009 for OS). 96 patients who received 6 courses of NACT were evaluated; 63 patients (65.6%) without macroscopic residual tumor after interval cytoreductive surgery had significantly longer DFS and OS than 33 patients (34.4%) with any residual tumor (HR: 1.716, 9 5.0% CI [1.092-2.697]; p: 0.010 for DFS, and HR: 1.921, 95.0% CI [1.125-3.282]; p: 0.013 for OS).

CONCLUSION

In patients with advanced ovarian cancer, there is no significant difference in DFS and OS between 3 and 4 cycles or 6 cycles of NACT. The most important factor determining survival is whether macroscopic residual tumor tissue remains after interval cytoreductive surgery following NACT.

Optimal number of neoadjuvant chemotherapy cycles prior to interval debulking surgery in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of progression-free survival and overall survival

OBJECTIVE

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) represents a treatment option in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (AEOC) who are not good candidates for primary debulking surgery. Usually, 3 cycles of chemotherapy before surgery have been considered the best option for patient survival, although quite often some patients receive more than 3 cycles. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to identify the optimal number of NACT cycles reporting better survival in AEOC patients.

METHODS

PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus were searched for original articles that analyzed the relationship between the number of chemotherapy cycles and clinical outcomes in AEOC patients before interval debulking surgery (IDS). The main outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

A total of 22 studies comprising 7,005 patients diagnosed with AEOC were included in our analysis. In terms of survival, the reviewed studies dividing the patients in ≤3 NACT cycles vs. >3, showed a trend for a decrease in PFS and a significant reduction in OS with an increasing number of cycles, while a difference in both PFS and OS was revealed if early IDS included patients with 4 NACT cycles. These results should be interpreted with caution due to the complex characteristics of AEOC patients.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our review and meta-analysis revealed that there is not enough evidence to determine the optimal number of NACT treatments before surgery. Further research in the form of well-designed randomized controlled trials is necessary to address this issue.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO Identifier: CRD42022334959.

Optimal First-Line Medico-Surgical Strategy in Ovarian Cancers: Are We There Yet?

In spite of tremendous advances in advanced ovarian cancer management through the past decade, notably owing to surgical expertise and novel combination molecules (including bevacizumab and PARP inhibitors), the optimal initial sequential strategy remains a major concern. Indeed, following seminal clinical trials, primary cytoreductive surgery (PCS) followed by adjuvant systemic therapy and interval cytoreductive surgery (ICS) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) have been positioned as validated alternatives with distinct pros and cons, although a definite response is still unassessed. In clinical practice, decisions between PCS and ICS rely on multilayer parameters: the tumor itself, the patient, and the health structure. In this state-of-the-art review, we will discuss the current evidence based on clinical trials and real-world data and highlight the remaining questions, including the fittest positioning of PCS vs. ICS and the optimal number of NACT cycles; subsequently, we will discuss current axes of research such as dedicated clinical trials and more global perspectives. These ongoing strategies and perspectives could contribute to improving the patient journey through personalized medicine.

Real-World Data on Newly Diagnosed BRCA-Mutated High-Grade Epithelial Ovarian Cancers: The French National Multicenter ESME Database

Simple Summary

BRCA-mutated high-grade epithelial ovarian cancers represent a specific subset of gynecological malignancies. Real-world comprehensive data have been elusive to date. As such, we conducted a comprehensive description of clinicopathological and therapeutical characteristics via the Epidemiological Strategy and Medical Economics (ESME) data warehouse, which collects data from 18 French comprehensive cancer centers from the Unicancer network. This led to useful findings regarding the natural disease history of these patients in clinical practice, prior to the advent of poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors.

Abstract

Background: In spite of the frequency and clinical impact of BRCA1/2 alterations in high-grade epithelial ovarian cancer (HGEOC), real-world information based on robust data warehouse has been scarce to date. Methods: Consecutive patients with BRCA-mutated HGEOC treated between 2011 and 2016 within French comprehensive cancer centers from the Unicancer network were extracted from the ESME database. The main objective of the study was the assessment of clinicopathological and treatments parameters. Results: Out of the 8021 patients included in the ESME database, 266 patients matching the selection criteria were included. BRCA1 mutation was found in 191 (71.8%) patients, while 75 (28.2%) had a BRCA2 mutation only; 95.5% of patients received a cytoreductive surgery. All patients received a taxane/platinum-based chemotherapy (median = six cycles). Complete and partial response were obtained in 53.3% and 20.4% of the cases, respectively. Maintenance therapy was administered in 55.3% of the cases, bevacizumab being the most common agent. After a median follow up of 51.7 months, a median progression-free survival of 28.6 months (95% confidence interval (CI) [26.5; 32.7]) and an estimated 5-year median overall survival of 69.2% (95% CI [61.6; 70.3]) were reported. Notably, BRCA1- and BRCA2-mutated cases exhibited a trend towards different median progression-free survivals, with 28.0 (95% CI [24.4; 32.3]) and 33.3 months (95% CI [26.7; 46.1]), respectively (p-value = 0.053). Furthermore, five-year OS for BRCA1-mutated patients was 64.5% (95% CI [59.7; 69.2]), while it was 82.5% (95% CI [76.6; 88.5]) for BRCA2-mutated ones (p-value = 0.029). Conclusions: This study reports the largest French multicenter cohort of BRCA-mutated HGEOCs based on robust data from the ESME, exhibiting relevant real-world data regarding this specific population.