Retrospective analysis of surgical outcomes and survival in women with advanced ovarian cancer undergoing interval debulking surgery
Authors: Kumar Neha , Maheshwari Amita , Gupta Sudeep , Ghosh Jaya , Bajpai Jyoti , Shylasree T. S. , Kerkar Rajendra 
Published: February 2021

Introduction: Both primary (PDS) and interval debulking surgery (IDS) have reported similar progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates in various studies. Complete resection of all macroscopic disease is the strongest independent variable in predicting survival in both groups.

Objective: To evaluate the demographics, surgical outcomes and survival in women with advanced ovarian cancer undergoing IDS.

Methods: All women with Stage IIIC or Stage IV epithelial ovarian or primary peritoneal cancer, registered at our institution from January 2010 to December 2010, who were treated with NACT followed by IDS, were included in the study. Demographic data, CA-125 levels (baseline and presurgery), chemotherapy and surgical details were collected. Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated and Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to evaluate factors associated with survival.

Results: One hundred fifty women with Stage IIIC or Stage IV epithelial ovarian or primary peritoneal cancer were included in the analysis. The mean age was 51.08 years (27 to 73 years) and 97.3% had serous histology. Eighty percent (n = 120) had Stage IIIC and 20% (n = 30) had Stage IV disease. Ninety five percent women received Carboplatin and Paclitaxel or single agent Carboplatin as NACT and the median number of NACT cycles was 3. The median baseline CA-125 was 1649.3 U/ml (Range 16.4–235,100 U/ml) and the median CA-125 post NACT was 42.75 U/ml (Range 4.4–5151 U/ml). Seventy four percent women (n = 111) underwent an optimal cytoreduction – 62.7% (n = 94) had R0 and 11.3% (n = 17) had R1 resection. Twenty six percent women (n = 39) had R2 resection. The median CA-125 post NACT was 27.3 U/ml, 36 U/ml and 99 U/ml in women with R0, R1 and R2 resection respectively and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.0005). The CA125 response was respectively, 97.6%, 95.7% and 93.8% in R0, R1 and R2 resection (p < 0.0005). The median follow up was 42.48 months (Range 1.48–70.93 months). The median PFS was 12.06 months (95% CI 10.02-14.1) – 12.98 months (95% CI 9.7–16.2) in R0, 9.56 months (95% CI 1.7–17.4) in R1 and 6.64 months (95% CI 4.9–8.3) in women with R2 resection (p = 0.158). The median OS was 38.9 months (95% CI 31.7–46.1) – 43.3 months (95% CI 33–53.5) in R0, 46.1 months (95% CI 26.6–65.5) in R1 and 28 months (95% CI 25–30.9) in R2 resection (p = 0.121). The median PFS and OS in women undergoing optimal cytoreduction (R0 and R1) was 12.98 months (95% CI 9.86–16.1) and 43.7 months (95% CI 34.7–52.7) respectively as compared to 6.64 months (95% CI 4.95–8.32) and 28 months (95% CI 25–30.9) respectively in women with R2 resection (PFS p = 0.064, OS p = 0.04). Multivariate analysis discussing the factors affecting the probability of optimal cytoreduction and the survival will be discussed.

Conclusion: In women with advanced ovarian cancer undergoing NACT followed by IDS, a high rate of optimal cytoreduction is achieved. Residual disease is a primary factor affecting the survival of these women.