Serial cytoreductive surgery and survival outcomes in recurrent adult-type ovarian granulosa cell tumors

Abstract

BackgroundFew studies have evaluated the role of cytoreductive surgery in patients with recurrent adult granulosa cell tumors of the ovary. Despite a multitude of treatment modalities in the recurrent setting, the optimal management strategy is not known. Cytoreductive surgery offers an attractive option for disease confined to the abdomen/pelvis. However, few studies have evaluated the role of surgery compared to systemic therapy alone following the first recurrence and subsequent disease progressions. ObjectiveTo determine the impact of secondary, tertiary, and quaternary cytoreductive surgery on survival outcomes in recurrent adult granulosa cell tumors of the ovary. Study DesignThis is a multicenter, retrospective cohort study evaluating patients with recurrent adult granulosa cell tumor of the ovary enrolled in the MD Anderson Rare Gynecologic Malignancy Registry from 1970 to 2022. Study inclusion criteria consisted of histology-proven recurrent disease, at least one documented recurrence, and treatment/treatment planning at MD Anderson Cancer Center or Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital. The primary exposure was cytoreductive surgery and the outcomes of interest were progression-free survival and overall survival. Survival analyses were restricted to eligible patients with resectable disease without medical barriers to surgery at each progression episode. Demographic and Clinicopathologic characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics. Progression-free survival (after first, second, and third progression) and overall survival were estimated with methods of Kaplan and Meier and were modeled via cox proportional hazards regression. Multivariable analyses were performed for progression-free survival after first progression and overall survival. ResultsAmong the 369 patients with adult granulosa cell tumors of the ovary in the registry, there were 149 patients who met the study inclusion criteria. Secondary cytoreductive surgery was associated with a significant improvement in progression-free survival on univariable (HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.17 – 0.81, p = 0.01) and multivariable analyses (HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.19 – 0.92, p = 0.03). Those who underwent secondary cytoreductive surgery had a significantly improved median overall survival compared to those who did not undergo cytoreductive surgery (181.92 months vs 61.56 months, respectively; p = 0.002). Overall survival benefit remained statistically significant on multivariable analysis (HR 0.28, 95% CI 0.11 – 0.67, p = 0.004). Tertiary cytoreductive surgery was similarly associated with a significant improvement in progression-free survival (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.26 – 0.70, p = 0.001). Despite a similar trend, quaternary cytoreductive surgery was not associated with a significant improvement in progression-free survival (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.42 – 1.26, p = 0.27). ConclusionsAmong those with resectable disease and no medical contraindications to surgery, cytoreductive surgery may offer a beneficial impact on progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with recurrent adult granulosa cell tumor of the ovary.