Background: The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy with those treated conventionally with primary debulking surgery. Methods: From February 1994 to October 2003, all consecutive cases of advanced stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) at the University of Bari were identified. A well-balanced group of women who underwent primary debulking surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy was selected as controls. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to determine the predictors for survival. Results: Thirty women with advanced stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and were compared to other 30 patients who underwent primary debulking surgery. Patients in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy were significantly older (p=0.03) and had a poorer ECOG performance status (p=0.02) compared to the controls. However, no statistical difference was observed in overall disease-specific survival (p=0.66) and disease-free survival (p=0.25) between the two groups. Conclusions: Despite patients in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy group are significantly older and have a poorer performance status, this treatment modality does not compromise survival. Prospective randomised trials comparing neoadjuvant chemotherapy to conventional treatment to determine the quality of life and cost/benefit outcomes are now appropriate for women presenting advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for stage III and IV epithelial ovarian cancer: A comparative study
LOIZZI, VERA;CORMIO, Gennaro;RESTA, Leonardo;
2004-01-01
Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy with those treated conventionally with primary debulking surgery. Methods: From February 1994 to October 2003, all consecutive cases of advanced stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) at the University of Bari were identified. A well-balanced group of women who underwent primary debulking surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy was selected as controls. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to determine the predictors for survival. Results: Thirty women with advanced stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and were compared to other 30 patients who underwent primary debulking surgery. Patients in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy were significantly older (p=0.03) and had a poorer ECOG performance status (p=0.02) compared to the controls. However, no statistical difference was observed in overall disease-specific survival (p=0.66) and disease-free survival (p=0.25) between the two groups. Conclusions: Despite patients in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy group are significantly older and have a poorer performance status, this treatment modality does not compromise survival. Prospective randomised trials comparing neoadjuvant chemotherapy to conventional treatment to determine the quality of life and cost/benefit outcomes are now appropriate for women presenting advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
