[Safety and efficacy of secondary cytoreductive surgery in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer after first-line PARPi maintenance therapy].

Objective

To investigate the effectiveness and safety of secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS) in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer who progressed after first-line maintenance therapy with poly adenosine diphosphate ribose polymerase inhibitor (PARPi).

Methods

Clinical pathological data and prognostic information were retrospectively collected from 30 ovarian cancer patients who underwent SCS between January 2018 and June 2024. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the second progression-free survival (PFS2) time and 3-year overall survival (OS) rate.

Results

(1) Primary treatment: the median age at diagnosis was 51.3 years. A total of 40% (12/30) patients underwent primary debulking surgery with an expectation of achieving no gross residual disease (R0), while 60% (18/30) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and interval debulking surgery. Optimal cytoreduction was achieved in 93% (28/30) of patients. BRCA1/2 gene testing was performed in 29 patients (testing rate 97%, 29/30), identifying 11 BRCA-mutated (37%, 11/30) and 18 BRCA wild-type (60%, 18/30) patients. The median duration of PARPi maintenance therapy among the 30 patients was 11.9 months; patients with BRCA gene mutations had a median duration of 19.2 months, while those with BRCA wild-type had a median duration of 10.1 months. (2) Secondary surgery: pathologically confirmed recurrence patterns, single lesion in 9 patients (30%, 9/30), oligo-lesion (2 lesions) in 3 patients (10%, 3/30), and multi-lesion (≥3 lesions) in 18 patients (60%, 18/30). Among the 30 patients, optimal cytoreduction was achieved in 97% (29/30) of SCS patients, with suboptimal cytoreduction in 1 patient (3%, 1/30). Adjuvant chemotherapy included platinum+paclitaxel in 24 (80%, 24/30) patients and platinum+liposomal doxorubicin in 6 (20%, 6/30) patients. PARPi re-treatment was administered to 17 patients (57%, 17/30) after chemotherapy. (3) Efficacy and safety: as of the follow-up cutoff in June 2024, the median follow-up time was 28.0 months. A total of 19 (63%, 19/30) patients experienced the next recurrence. The median PFS2 time after SCS was 18.5 months. Recurrence occurred in 7 BRCA-mutated and 12 BRCA gene wild-type patients. Median PFS2 time was significantly longer in BRCA-mutated patients compared to BRCA wild-type patients (25.7 vs 14.1 months; P=0.028). Three deaths occurred during follow-up, resulting in a 3-year OS rate of 90%. Among the 30 patients, postoperative complications occurred in 4 patients (13%, 4/30). One patient developed a ureteral fistula on 7 days post-SCS requiring ureteral stenting, and one patient was transferred to the intensive care unit on 1 day post-SCS due to hypovolemic shock. No deaths occurred within 30 days after SCS.

Conclusion

For platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer patients progressed after first-line PARPi maintenance therapy who are anticipated to achieve R0 resection, SCS represents a safe and effective second-line treatment option.