Surgical treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer: A review

Abstract

Aim. To analyze the data available in the modern literature on the role of repeated cytoreduction in the complex treatment of relapses ovarian cancer (OC).
 Materials and methods. Sources were searched in the following systems Clinicaltrials.gov, PubMed, Medline, NCCN, Scopus, Gynecol Oncol, Elibrary. After analyzing the literature review, 31 sources were used, published from January 1989 to December 2020.
 Results. The main method of treatment relapses of ОС is administration of systemic chemotherapy. The role of surgical treatment has been actively discussed for several decades. According to the available data of retrospective, prospective, randomized trials, performing surgery following chemotherapy had a favorable effect on the long-term results of treatment just in case of achieving complete cytoreduction in comparison with only chemotherapeutic treatment of platinum-sensitive recurrence of ОС. A validated prognostic model helps to perform the selection of suitable patients for surgical treatment, therefore, the correct selection for secondary cytoreduction allows to identify the patients with a high chance of achieving сomplete cytoreduction, which reduces the number of ineffective operations in patients with residual tumors.
 Conclusion. Complete cytoreduction of all macroscopically detectable recurrent tumor lesions in combination with subsequent systemic chemotherapy leads to an improvement in progression-free survival and life expectancy in a carefully selected group of patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent OC. Secondary cytoreduction in platinum-refractory and platinum-resistant relapses deteriorates the prognosis and doesn't lead to an increase in survival rates. Patient selection is the key point in secondary cytoreductive surgery. The choice of the methodology of selection of patients is in the process of discussion. When planning treatment, all patients with recurrent OC should be discussed at multidisciplinary teams with the participation of specialists in related specialties. Considering a surgical treatment option should be performed it in large centers with extensive experience in the surgical treatment of OC, relapses, performing complex multi-organ resections.