Current practices for the management of advanced high-grade epithelial ovarian cancer in the UK: OC-NOW survey (2023)
Creators: name: Fotopoulou, Christina
name: Bowen, Rebecca
name: Manchanda, Ranjit
name: Michael, Agnieszka
name: McCormack, Stephen
name: Ullmann, Allan
name: Wesselbaum, Anthony
name: Levick, Bethany
name: Miller, Rowan
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Ecology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Science Policy

description: <b>Aim:</b> To investigate current management of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (OC) in the UK. <b>Materials &amp; methods:</b> A cross-sectional survey with 55 healthcare professionals involved in the care of OC patients was conducted via telephone/videoconference in March/May 2023. <b>Results:</b> Respondents reported that homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) status and brca mutations were routinely tested before planning maintenance treatment. All respondents agreed that cytoreductive surgery should be considered at first recurrence, and 65% recommended using the Descriptive Evaluation of Preoperative Selection Criteria for Operability in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer (DESKTOP) III criteria to guide secondary cytoreduction. Platinum responders typically receive poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor maintenance therapy, regardless of HRD status. <b>Conclusion:</b> Respondents reinforce that most primary OC patients in the UK have known HRD and <i>BRCA</i> mutation status, and the role of secondary cytoreduction is increasingly recognized. The study aimed to explore how advanced epithelial ovarian cancer is managed in the United Kingdom. In early 2023, a survey was conducted with 55 healthcare professionals who care for ovarian cancer patients. Findings showed that testing for homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) and <i>BRCA</i> mutations is standard before planning maintenance treatment. Most healthcare professionals agreed on considering surgery at the first recurrence and 65% recommended using specific criteria for this secondary surgery. Patients who respond to platinum treatments usually receive maintenance therapy. Overall, HRD and <i>BRCA</i> status are well known for most primary ovarian cancer patients, and secondary surgery is increasingly recognized as important. The OC-NOW survey, including UK-based healthcare professionals (HCPs) involved in the secondary care management of ovarian cancer, was conducted using telephone/videoconference structured interviews between March and May 2023. Most respondents were from England (85.5%), and 69% were gynecological, medical or clinical oncologists. Surveyed HCPs reported that homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) status and <i>BRCA</i> mutation were routinely tested before planning maintenance treatment. All respondents agreed that cytoreductive surgery should be considered at first recurrence and indicated that access to anti-angiogenic/vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor therapy is important at first recurrence. The HCPs reported that patients who responded to platinum typically received poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor maintenance therapy, regardless of HRD status. At first relapse, the DESKTOP III criteria were used by most HCPs (65.5%) to select candidates for secondary cytoreduction (SC), with up to 30% of patients who responded to platinum-based therapies deemed eligible for SC in 82.8% of centers.