Perioperative outcomes and survival in elderly women with ovarian cancer

Abstract

Objectives: The rate of perioperative adverse events, postoperative outcomes and survival between patients aged 60-69 yo versus those ≥70 yo undergoing surgery for the primary treatment of advanced ovarian cancer (OC). Methods: We retrospectively identified all patients ≥60 years old treated surgically for primary advanced high-grade OC at our institution between January 2016 and December 2018. Institutional National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data were obtained for post-operative complications. Additional data were abstracted from medical records. Results are stratified based on the treatment approach: primary debulking surgery (PDS) or neo-adjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery (NACT/IDS). Appropriate statistical tests were performed. Results: A total of 77 patients were analyzed; 45 were between 60-69 years and 32 were ≥70 years. There were no differences in preoperative BMI, ECOG, ASA, CCI, polypharmacy, baseline bloodwork and stage (Table 1). Only 2 patients ≥70 years (0.6%) saw a geriatric oncology specialist prior to treatment. A total of 32 patients underwent PDS (60-69yo: n=18, ≥70yo: n=14), and 45 patients had NACT/IDS (60-69yo: n=27, ≥70yo: n=18). In both PDS and NACT/IDS groups, there were no differences in the post-operative adverse events between the two age groups. Older patients in the NACT/IDS group received less total platinum and taxane chemotherapy before and after surgery compared to NACT/IDS patients aged 60-69 years (p Download : Download high-res image (144KB) Download : Download full-size image Download : Download high-res image (263KB) Download : Download full-size image Conclusions: Although baseline characteristics were comparable between younger and older OC patients, reasons for PDS versus NACT/IDS were difficult to extrapolate from the medical record. Age was not a factor influencing perioperative outcomes of advanced ovarian cancer patients and the main predictor of outcomes was treatment approach. Since PDS is the main predictor of survival, a standardized, multi-disciplinary approach to optimize the management of older patients with ovarian cancer is necessary. Use of a formal assessment tool and consultation with a geriatric specialist may facilitate more patients undergoing PDS.