The interval between the primary cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with advanced ovarian cancer

Abstract

Aim of the study was to establish the effect of the time interval between the initial optimal cytoreductive surgery and the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapeutic treatment (ACT) on the overall survival (OS) of patients with advanced ovarian adenocarcinoma. Materials and methods. Clinical cases of 60 patients with advanced ovarian adenocarcinoma (FIGO IIIC-IV), with the average age of 61 years, who underwent primary cytoreductive surgery (PDS) with the completeness of cytoreduction (CC) — 0 score according to Shugarbaker and adjuvant chemotherapeutic treatment according to the standard first-line regimen were examined. Patients were categorized depending on the time between surgery and chemotherapeutic treatment into two groups: I — delay of chemotherapy for no more than one month (30 patients), II — from two to six months (30 patients). The OS data of the patients obtained from the national cancer registry were analyzed. Results. The results demonstrate an increase in OS of patients who underwent CC-0 PDS at the early initiation of ACT. Conclusions. Delaying the onset of ACT is an independent predictor of the worse OS after performing PDS. According to the data obtained, patients should start ACT within 1 month after the surgery. However, the findings are proved if CC-0 is achieved during the operation.