Clinical benefit of hormonal therapy in advanced ovarian cancer

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the benefit of hormonal therapy in advanced ovarian carcinoma. Materials and Methods: The present authors reviewed the data of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer patients who underwent hormonal therapy between 2009 and 2016. Primary endpoint was clinical benefit. Secondary endpoints were overall response rate, CA 125 response, overall survival, progression-free survival, and toxicity. Results: The authors identified 47 patients. Median age was 61 years. Serous carcinoma was the main histologic subtype (70%). Hormone receptor expression was positive in 23% of patients. Previous to hormonal therapy, 60% of patients were treated with two or more chemotherapy regimens (range 2-8). Hormonal therapy was initiated in 34% of patients due to disease progression and the remaining as maintenance therapy. No relevant toxicity was reported. Progression-free survival was six months (CI 95% 2.1-9.9) and overall survival was 22 months (CI 95% 13.0-31.0). Based on imaging response criteria, one patient had complete response, 70% had stable disease, and 19% progressed on the first evaluation. Overall clinical benefit was 72%. Discussion: Clinical benefit was superior to the reported in the literature, probably related to its maintenance use between chemotherapy treatments. More prospective studies are needed to determine the real advantage of hormonal therapy in advanced ovarian cancer vs. clinical surveillance, mainly in the maintenance setting, as well as its correlation with hormone receptor expression.