Optimal Cytoreduction Research Articles

Ovarian Cancer Staging-How CT Scan Descriptions Differ from Surgical Findings.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer death in women worldwide. Most often, it is detected in an advanced stage due to its insidious onset and lack of symptoms in stages I and II. That is why imaging diagnostics is so important. Therefore, we assessed the consistency of the image seen on CT with the actual image assessed during surgery. Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare preoperative evaluation based on CT reports with those obtained during ovarian cancer surgery to determine whether CT is helpful in assessing the possibility of optimal or complete cytoreduction. Methods: This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy or laparotomy with cytoreduction. We compared ovarian cancer lesions described by radiologists on CT scans to those described during laparoscopy or laparotomy; the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired observations was used to compare the variables. Results: We observed that the morphology of the tumor, mesenteric infiltration, and the assessment of the involvement of the abdominal, para-aortic, and iliac lymph nodes may differ in CT examination and during surgery. Conclusions: The site of the tumor exit on a CT scan does not always reflect the original site seen during surgery.

Symptom-triggered testing detects early stage and low volume resectable advanced stage ovarian cancer

ObjectiveSymptom-triggered testing for ovarian cancer was introduced to the UK whereby symptomatic women undergo an ultrasound scan and serum CA125, and are referred to hospital within 2 weeks if these...

The impact of Paclitaxel-based hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients - interim analysis of safety and immediate efficacy of a randomized control trial (C-HOC trial)

ObjectiveThis study evaluates the potential superiority of combining paclitaxel-based hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) with sequential intravenous neoadjuvant chemotherapy over intravenous neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone in Chinese patients with Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIIC, IVA and IVB high-grade serous ovarian/fallopian tube carcinoma (HGSOC). This interim analysis focuses on the safety and immediate efficacy of both regimens to determine the feasibility of the planned trial (C-HOC Trial).MethodsIn a single-center, open-label, randomized control trial, FIGO stage IIIC, IVA, and IVB HGSOC patients (FAGOTTI score ≥ 8 during laparoscopic exploration) unsuitable for optimal cytoreduction in primary debulking surgery (PDS) were randomized 2:1 during laparoscopic exploration. The Experiment Group (HIPEC Group) received one cycle of intraperitoneal neoadjuvant laparoscopic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (paclitaxel) followed by three cycles of intravenous chemotherapy (paclitaxel plus carboplatin), while the Control Group received only three cycles of intravenous chemotherapy. Both groups subsequently underwent interval debulking surgery (IDS). The adverse effects of chemotherapy, postoperative complications, and pathological chemotherapy response scores (CRS) after IDS were compared.ResultsAmong 65 enrolled patients, 39 HIPEC Group and 21 Control Group patients underwent IDS. Grade 3–4 chemotherapy-related adverse effects were primarily hematological with no significant differences between the two groups. The HIPEC Group exhibited a higher proportion of CRS 3 (20.5% vs. 4.8%; P = 0.000). R0 resection rates in IDS were 69.2% (HIPEC Group) and 66.7% (Control Group). R2 resection occurred in 2.6% (HIPEC Group) and 14.3% (Control Group) cases. No reoperations or postoperative deaths were reported, and complications were managed conservatively.ConclusionsCombining HIPEC with IV NACT in treating ovarian cancer demonstrated safety and feasibility, with no increased chemotherapy-related adverse effects or postoperative complications. HIPEC improved tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, potentially enhancing progression-free survival (PFS). However, the final overall survival results are pending, determining if HIPEC combined with IV NACT is superior to IV NACT alone.

Assessment of Intraoperative Scoring Systems for Predicting Cytoreduction Outcome in Peritoneal Metastatic Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) is a widely acknowledged treatment approach for peritoneal metastasis, showing favorable prognosis and long-term survival. Intraoperative scoring systems quantify tumoral burden before CRS and may predict complete cytoreduction (CC). This study reviews the intraoperative scoring systems for predicting CC and optimal cytoreduction (OC)and evaluates the predictive performance of the Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) and Predictive Index Value (PIV). Systematic searches were conducted in Embase, MEDLINE, and Web of Science. Meta-analyses of extracted data were performed to compare the absolute predictive performances of PCI and PIV. Thirty-eight studies (5834 patients) focusing on gynecological (n = 34; 89.5%), gastrointestinal (n = 2; 5.3%) malignancies, and on tumors of various origins (n = 2; 5.3%) were identified. Seventy-seven models assessing the predictive performance of scoring systems (54 for CC and 23 for OC) were identified with PCI (n = 39/77) and PIV (n = 16/77) being the most common. Twenty models (26.0%) reinterpreted previous scoring systems of which ten (13%) used a modified version of PIV (reclassification). Meta-analyses of models predicting CC based on PCI (n = 21) and PIV (n = 8) provided an AUC estimate of 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79-0.86; Q = 119.6, p = 0.0001; I2 = 74.1%) and 0.74 (95% CI 0.68-0.81; Q = 7.2, p = 0.41; I2 = 11.0%), respectively. Peritoneal Cancer Index models demonstrate an excellent estimate of CC, while PIV shows an acceptable performance. There is a need for high-quality studies to address management differences, establish standardized cutoff values, and focus on non-gynecological malignancies.

Optimizing patient selection for secondary cytoreductive surgery in recurrent endometrial cancer

ObjectiveThis retrospective, multicenter, observational study aimed to refine patient selection criteria for secondary cytoreductive surgery in recurrent endometrial cancer. The objective was to identify preoperative predictors of complete cytoreduction, assess...

Splenectomy as a part of cytoreductive surgery in ovarian cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveThe role of splenectomy on cytoreductive surgery in patients with ovarian cancer remains controversial. We conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and impact of survival outcome of splenectomy in...

Clinical and outcome patterns in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) within a Latin American cohort.

e23308 Background: Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC) is an heterogenous disease which is usually diagnosed inadvanced stages. Despite the advent of new therapies, the outcomes for this disease remain poor in certain scenarios. We describe the clinical features and survival outcomes in a developing country. Methods: Retrospective study based on case review of women with newly diagnosed EOC between 2015 and 2017 at Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas (INEN), Lima- Peru. Descriptive analysis was conducted for clinical characteristics, epidemiological factors and treatment. PFS was calculated from the date of diagnosis until the first documented progression and OS from the date of diagnosis to death. Both were calculated using the Kaplan Meier curve. Results: 234 patients were included, the most common histology subtype was high grade serous carcinoma (47,5%), followed by mucinous (15.9%) and clear cell carcinoma (15.4%). Median age was 55.7 yo (range 19-88). Breast and ovarian cancer family history were reported in 3.8% and 3.0%, respectively. 35.8% of patients were overweight, and 12.5% were obese. Most patients (61.5%) were diagnosed at advanced disease (III-IV) and the most common site of metastasis was liver (43.6%) and lung/pleural (28.2%). BCRA testing was performed only in 6% of patients, and 4/14 patients had a pathologic mutation. Ca125 was elevated in 86.2% of patients. Regarding treatment, all patients with early stage disease (I-II) underwent surgical staging. For advanced stage disease, 47.6% (69/145) of patients underwent upfront surgery and 41.4% (60/145) received platinum-based chemotherapy in neoadjuvant setting; 57.3% (35/61) of these patients achieved optimal secondary cytoreduction. With a median follow up of 74,4 months, median PFS was 32.61 months (0.6-474) and global median OS was 58.13 months. Median OS for early disease (I-II) was not reached and for advanced disease (III-IV) was 33.73 months. Survival rate at 5y for all stages was 45.2%; 60.8% and 28.4% for early and advanced disease, respectively. Conclusions: These findings highlight the prevalence of high-grade serous carcinoma and the significance of advanced-stage diagnosis in the survival outcomes. In the era of targeted therapies, the lack of access to BRCA detection tests restricts therapeutic options and, consequently, hinders responses in this group of patients.

Outcome and prognostic factors of low‑grade serous ovarian cancer: An observational retrospective study.

Low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) is a very rare histological subtype of serous ovarian cancer, representing ~2% of all epithelial ovarian cancer cases. LGSOC has a better prognosis but a lower response rate to chemotherapy in comparison to high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC). The present study is a retrospective review of the medical records of all patients with histologically proven LGSOC diagnosed and treated in a single institute between January 2003 and December 2019. A total of 23 patients diagnosed with LGSOC and treated at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) were identified. The median age at diagnosis was 45.5 years (range, 26-66 years) and the median body mass index was 26.1 (range, 18-43). A total of 21 patients (91.3%) had de novo LGSOC, whereas only 2 patients (8.7%) had LGSOC that had transformed from serous borderline ovarian tumors and recurred. A total of 8 patients (34.8%) were diagnosed with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IV, whereas 3 (13.0%), 3 (13.0%) and 9 (39.1%) were diagnosed with stages I, II and III, respectively. In addition, 10 (43.5%), 5 (21.7%), and 3 (13.0%) patients had complete response, stable disease and partial response statuses after first-line therapy, respectively. At a median follow-up time of 34 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 25.32-42.69], the median progression-free survival (PFS) time was 75.2 months (95% CI, 17.35-133.05) and the median overall survival (OS) time was not reached. In conclusion, LGSOC exhibited better PFS and OS times than HGSOC as compared with data from the literature, and there is the option for systemic treatment (chemotherapy or hormonal therapy). Optimal cytoreduction showed numerically higher, but non-significant, PFS and OS times compared with suboptimal debulking; however, the optimal systemic chemotherapy or hormonal treatment remains controversial.

Primary cytoreductive surgery followed by chemotherapy compared to neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by cytoreduction as a treatment for stage III and IV ovarian cancer (literature review)

Standard treatment for advanced ovarian cancer (OC) consists of a combination of chemotherapy and cytoreductive surgery, but practice varies depending on the order of these 2 procedures: neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery or primary cytoreduction followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. The aim of the work is to evaluate methods of treatment of OC of stages III, IV according to FIGO.The literature review includes publications in English from the PubMed, CochraneLibrary and Google Scholar databases on the use of neoadjuvant therapy and primary cytoreduction in late stages of OC (FIGO III–IV). 6 randomized controlled trials, 8 meta-analyses, 8 systematic reviews, 1 case report were identified. Data from publications were distributed according to the criteria for assessing the effectiveness of the treatment: overall and relapse-free survival, perioperative complications, quality of life of patients and the grade of cytoreduction.Neoadjuvant chemotherapy + interval debulking surgery is not inferior to primary debulking surgery + adjuvant chemotherapy in terms of survival outcomes in selected patients, but treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy + interval debulking surgery improves perioperative outcomes and optimal cytoreduction rates. It is needed to focus on finding optimal criteria for selecting patients in both groups in future studies of this issue. It is necessary to take into account X-ray, histological studies, the molecular subtype of the tumor, the patient’s condition, the qualifications of the surgical team, the drugs included in chemotherapy.

Intraoperative Normothermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Following Optimal Cytoreduction in Advanced Ca Ovary: A Feasibility Study

Introduction: Extrapolating the results from the studies using HIPEC, EPIC and normothermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, we proposed that normothermic chemotherapy instilled after optimal cytoreduction will improve survival in patients who underwent optimal cytoreduction. We undertook this feasibility study with the aim of studying the effectiveness of intraoperative normothermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with advanced-stage epithelial carcinoma ovary. Methods: This was a single institutional feasibility study. The primary objective was progression-free survival (PFS) following the instillation of normothermic chemotherapy following optimal cytoreduction in cases of advanced ovarian cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The secondary objective was to study tolerability and toxicity. The study received institutional ethical committee clearance. Results: A total of 24 patients were included in the pilot study over two years. The short-term analysis was made by comparing 45 patients who underwent interval cytoreductive surgery (ICS) with CC 0 and 1 during the same period. The most common side effect was prolonged post-operative ileus which was seen in six patients. The median PFS among patients who received IP chemotherapy was significantly better in comparison to patients who received ICS alone (34.0 vs. 13.0 months, p=0.018). Conclusion: Uniform state-of-the-art management of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer may not be accessible to all due to global resource limitations. Although the evidence is weak due to the small sample size and short follow-up of patients, the findings are encouraging. This feasibility study has provided substantial evidence to work further with this approach in our institute and plan an randomised controlled trial to gain more evidence.

Range of Resection in Endometrial Cancer-Clinical Issues of Made-to-Measure Surgery.

Endometrial cancer (EC) poses a significant health issue among women, and its incidence has been rising for a couple of decades. Surgery remains its principal treatment method and may have a curative, staging, or palliative aim. The type and extent of surgery depends on many factors, and the risks and benefits should be carefully weighed. While simple hysterectomy might be sufficient in early stage EC, modified-radical hysterectomy is sometimes indicated. In advanced disease, the evidence suggests that, similarly to ovarian cancer, optimal cytoreduction improves survival rate. The role of lymphadenectomy in EC patients has long been a controversial issue. The rationale for systematic lymphadenectomy and the procedure of the sentinel lymph node biopsy are thoroughly discussed. Finally, the impact of the molecular classification and new International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system on EC treatment is outlined. Due to the increasing knowledge on the pathology and molecular features of EC, as well as the new advances in the adjuvant therapies, the surgical management of EC has become more complex. In the modern approach, it is essential to adjust the extent of the surgery to a specific patient, ensuring an optimal, made-to-measure personalized surgery. This narrative review focuses on the intricacies of surgical management of EC and aims at summarizing the available literature on the subject, providing an up-to-date clinical guide.

Primary cytoreductive surgery compared with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with BRCA mutated advanced high grade serous ovarian cancer: 10 year survival analysis

ObjectivesGiven the high response to platinum based chemotherapy in BRCA 1/2 mutated high grade serous ovarian cancers, there is uncertainty about the relative benefits of primary cytoreductive surgery versus neoadjuvant...

Preoperative serum level of CA153 and a new model to predict the sub-optimal primary debulking surgery in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to establish a preoperative model to predict the outcome of primary debulking surgery (PDS) for advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) patients by combing Suidan predictive model with HE4, CA125, CA153 and ROMA index.Methods76 AOC Patients in revised 2014 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage III-IV who underwent PDS between 2017 and 2019 from Yunnan Cancer Hospital were included. Clinical data including the levels of preoperative serum HE4, CA125, CA153 and mid-lower abdominal CT-enhanced scan results were collected. The logistics regression analysis was performed to find factors associated with sub-optimal debulking surgery (SDS). The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the predictive performances of selected variables in the outcome of primary debulking surgery. The predictive index value (PIV) model was constructed to predict the outcome of SDS.ResultsOptimal surgical cytoreduction was achieved in 61.84% (47/76) patients. The value for CA125, HE4, CA153, ROMA index and Suidan score was lower in optimal debulking surgery (ODS) group than SDS group. Based on the Youden index, which is widely used for evaluating the performance of predictive models, the best cutoff point for the preoperative serum HE4, CA125, CA153, ROMA index and Suidan score to distinguish SDS were 431.55 pmol/l, 2277 KU/L, 57.19 KU/L, 97.525% and 2.5, respectively. Patients with PIV≥5 may not be able to achieve optimal surgical cytoreduction. The diagnostic accuracy, NPV, PPV and specificity for diagnosing SDS were 73.7%, 82.9%, 62.9% and 72.3%, respectively. In the constructed model, the AUC of the SDS prediction was 0.770 (95% confidence interval: 0.654-0.887), P<0.001.ConclusionPreoperative serum CA153 level is an important non-invasive predictor of primary SDS in advanced AOC, which has not been reported before. The constructed PIV model based on Suidan's predictive model plus HE4, CA125, CA153 and ROMA index can noninvasively predict SDS in AOC patients, the accuracy of this prediction model still needs to be validated in future studies.

Are preoperative serum cancer antigen 125 levels a prognostic factor for outcome in epithelial ovarian cancer? A systematic review.

Most patients with epithelial ovarian cancers (EOC) present with advanced-stage disease because of non-specific symptoms and lack of reliable strategies for early diagnosis. Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) is suggested as a useful prognostic biomarker, its serum level is raised in over 80.0% of patients with EOC. Primary debulking surgery (PDS) followed by chemotherapy is the conventional treatment, but neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery (NACT-IDS) is offered to patients with unresectable disease. There are inconsistencies regarding the role of preoperative CA-125 serum levels to adopt in stratifying patients for treatment choice that offers the most benefit. This review aimed to determine the role of preoperative CA-125 levels in predicting optimal cytoreduction and the association between optimal cytoreduction and survival outcome in patients with EOC. Three electronic databases CINAHL, Cochrane library and PubMed were searched for potentially relevant articles from 2016 to 2021 on the role of preoperative CA-125 levels in predicting optimal cytoreduction and survival in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinomas. In patients who underwent NACT-IDS, a lower preoperative CA-125 value is a predictor of optimal cytoreduction and an increase in preoperative CA-125 value is consistently associated with a decrease in optimal cytoreduction. There was insufficient data to assess overall survival. However, a raised preoperative CA-125 level is poor predictor of chance of achieving optimal cytoreduction and the rate of optimal cytoreduction was a weak predictor of overall survival in women who had primary debulking surgery.

Characteristics of Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Patients in Dr. M. Jamil Padang Hospital

Background: Ovarian cancer is a major global health concern, often diagnosed at advanced stages, impacting five-year survival rates. This study examines the demographic and clinical characteristics of 64 patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer, shedding light on the disease complexity.Methods: Conducted at General Hospital Dr. M. Djamil Padang, this cross-sectional study analyzed patient data using SPSS. The research, approved by the Health Research Ethics Committee of Andalas University, included detailed demographic and clinical assessments.Results: Predominantly, patients were aged 40-64, exhibited normal BMI, and a significant portion had not given birth. Evaluation of clinical factors, including Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) and residual tumor size, provided insights into the cohort's characteristics. Optimal cytoreduction (&lt;1 cm residual tumor) was prevalent, emphasizing the role of surgery in enhancing survival.Conclusion: The study underscores the multifaceted nature of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer and advocates personalized treatment approaches tailored to individual patient profiles. The findings contribute valuable insights to the existing knowledge, emphasizing the importance of age, BMI, and surgical interventions in influencing outcomes.

Neglected Anatomical Areas in Ovarian Cancer: Significance for Optimal Debulking Surgery.

Ovarian cancer (OC), the most lethal gynecological malignancy, usually presents in advanced stages. Characterized by peritoneal and lymphatic dissemination, OC necessitates a complex surgical approach usually involving the upper abdomen with the aim of achieving optimal cytoreduction without visible macroscopic disease (R0). Failures in optimal cytoreduction, essential for prognosis, often stem from overlooking anatomical neglected sites that harbor residual tumor. Concealed OC metastases may be found in anatomical locations such as the omental bursa; Morison's pouch; the base of the round ligament and hepatic bridge; the splenic hilum; and suprarenal, retrocrural, cardiophrenic and inguinal lymph nodes. Hence, mastery of anatomy is crucial, given the necessity for maneuvers like liver mobilization, diaphragmatic peritonectomy and splenectomy, as well as dissection of suprarenal, celiac, and cardiophrenic lymph nodes in most cases. This article provides a meticulous anatomical description of neglected anatomical areas during OC surgery and describes surgical steps essential for the dissection of these "neglected" areas. This knowledge should equip clinicians with the tools needed for safe and complete cytoreduction in OC patients.

Effect of tumor type on response to adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy and prognosis in patients with stage II-IV epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

To evaluate the effect of histological subtype on oncological outcome and adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy response in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). The study group was created with stage II-IV EOC patients. Progression-free survival (PFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) estimates were determined by using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test and cox proportional hazards model were performed. A total 396 patients were included the study. Tumor type was serous in 332 (83.8%). Two hundred and thirty-one patients (58.3%) had maximal cytoreduction. Three hundred and twenty-seven (82.6%) patients received complete clinical response. Refractory disease was present in 69 (17.4%) patients. In patients with complete clinical response, 183 (56%) patients recurred. Five-year PFS was 32% in serous group and 31% in non-serous group (p = 0.755). Five-year DSS was 78% in serous group and 87% in non-serous group (p = 0.084). On multivariate analysis, recurrence rates 1.959 times (95% CI: 1.224-3.085; p = 0.004), death rates 2.624 times (95% CI: 1.328-5.185; p = 0.005) higher in patients with optimal cytoreduction than patients with maximal cytoreduction, respectively. Although the rate of maximal cytoreduction was higher in patients with non-serous tumor type, the rate of refractory disease was higher after adjuvant chemotherapy. However, the recurrence rate was higher in serous tumor type. Survival rates were similar in serous and non-serous tumor types. Maximal cytoreduction was an independent predictor factor for survival. Maximal cytoreduction should be the main target in EOC.

Platinum-free Interval May Predict Duration of Maintenance Bevacizumab and Survival in Platinum-sensitive Recurrent Ovarian Cancer.

We investigated factors affecting the long-term duration of bevacizumab-based maintenance therapy (BMT) and survival in patients with the first platinum-sensitive recurrence of ovarian cancer (PSR). We included patients with the first PSR in two tertiary centers from January 2015 till August 2021. All patients received six cycles of paclitaxel, carboplatin, and bevacizumab followed by BMT. We collected data including age at recurrence, histologic types, the status of BRCA mutation, platinum-free interval (PFI), extent of secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS), presence of extra-abdominal disease, numbers of recurred lesions, cycles of BMT, progression-free survival (PFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS). The median cycles of BMT were 13 (range=1-108). A total 103 patients were included, who consisted of the short-term (<13 cycles; n=49; 47.6%) and long-term users of BMT (≥13 cycles; n=54; 52.4%). High-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), PFI >12 months, and optimal cytoreduction during SCS were favorable factors for the long-term duration of BMT. Moreover, PFI >12 months and the long-term duration of BMT were factors for improved PFS, and HGSC and PFI >12 months were related to improved CSS. PFI >12 months may be associated with the long-term duration of BMT and improved survival in patients with the first PSR.

"Things Have Changed"-Laparoscopic Cytoreduction for Advanced and Recurrent Ovarian Cancer: The Experience of a Referral Center on 108 Patients.

To report the feasibility of laparoscopic cytoreduction surgery for primary and recurrent ovarian cancer in a select group of patients. A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of patients with FIGO stage IIIA-IV advanced ovarian cancer who underwent laparoscopic primary debulking surgery (PDS), interval debulking surgery (IDS), or secondary debulking surgery (SDS) between June 2008 and January 2020. The primary endpoint was achieving optimal cytoreduction, defined as residual tumor less than 1 cm. Secondary endpoints included evaluating surgical complications and long-term survival, assessed at three-month intervals during the initial two years and then every six months. This study included a total of 108 patients, among whom, 40 underwent PDS, 44 underwent IDS, and 24 underwent SDS. Optimal cytoreduction rates were found to be 95.0%, 97.7%, and 95.8% for the PDS, ISD, and SDS groups, respectively. Early postoperative complications (<30 days from surgery) occurred in 19.2% of cases, with 7.4% of these cases requiring reintervention. One patient died following postoperative respiratory failure. Late postoperative complications (<30 days from surgery) occurred in 9.3% of cases, and they required surgical reintervention only in one case. After laparoscopic optimal cytoreduction with a median follow-up time of 25 months, the overall recurrence rates were 45.7%, 38.5%, and 39.3% for PDS, ISD, and SDS, respectively. The three-year overall survival rates were 84%, 66%, and 63%, respectively, while the three-year disease-free survival rates were 48%, 51%, and 71%, respectively. Laparoscopic cytoreduction surgery is feasible for advanced ovarian cancer in carefully selected patients, resulting in high rates of optimal cytoreduction, satisfactory peri-operative morbidity, and encouraging survival outcomes. Future studies should focus on establishing standardized selection criteria and conducting well-designed investigations to further refine patient selection and evaluate long-term outcomes.

Role of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Correspondence&#x0D; Dr Manju Pandey , Gynecology Oncology Unit, Dept. of Surgical Oncology, BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Bharatpur, Nepal. Email: drmanju921@gmail.com&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Introduction: Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy diagnosed at late stage in most of the cases. Management includes primary debulking surgery with a target of no gross residual disease or ≤ 1cm residual disease followed by paclitaxel and carboplatin-based chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy of at least 3 cycles followed by interval debulking surgery is an alternative option in selected cases of advanced disease. Material and Method: A prospective study was carried out at B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan from the period 1st November 2022 to 31st August 2023 (10 months). Patients diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer based on clinical and CECT findings and confirmed with cytology or FNAC or biopsy undergoing Interval Debulking Surgery after 3 cycles of NACT (paclitaxel and carboplatin) were included. The role of NACT in terms of response according to RECIST criteria, regression of CA125 value, rate of complete or optimal cytoreduction, and postoperative complications were analyzed. Results: A total of 40 cases fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Most patients 14(35%) were between 51-60 years with a mean age of 51.45 ± 11.46 SD years. Abdominal pain and/or distension were the most common presenting symptoms. The majority 32 (84.2%) of cases were given NACT based on CT scan findings of advanced disease. Confirmation of malignancy was done by positive USG-guided FNAC from ovarian mass in most cases 23 (57.5%), followed by positive ascitic fluid cytology in 8 (20%) patients. The median CA125 value before and after NACT were 844 U/ml and 27.89 U/ml respectively. After NACT, CA125 was normalized in 24 (60%) patients. Most patients 30 (75%) had complete cytoreduction during IDS; while 7 (17.5%) patients had optimal cytoreduction, and 3 (7.5%) had suboptimal cytoreduction. The median duration of surgery was 147.5 minutes, and the median blood loss was 287.5 ml. The postoperative period was uneventful in most cases. Conclusions: NACT followed by interval debulking surgery is an effective alternative in selected cases of advanced ovarian cancer as the complete and optimal cytoreduction rate is higher with fewer postoperative complications.