Role of adjuvant chemotherapy in stage IC ovarian granulosa cell tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy on recurrence and mortality in stage IC granulosa cell tumors (GCTs).

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library for studies published up to December 1, 2024, comparing the oncological outcomes of adjuvant chemotherapy with observation in stage IC GCTs.

RESULTS

Seventy studies were identified, with 12 included in the meta-analysis. Among 695 patients, 255 (36.7%) received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and 440 (63.3%) received observation. The overall recurrence and mortality rates were 18.7% and 7.6%, respectively. No significant differences were observed in survival outcomes between the adjuvant chemotherapy and observation groups, including recurrence rate (odds ratio [OR]=1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.67-2.58; p=0.424; I²=33%), mortality rate (OR=0.83; 95% CI=0.44-1.57; p=0.560; I²=0%), 5-year disease free survival (OR=0.88; 95% CI=0.18-4.18; p=0.868; I²=54%) and 5-year overall survival (OR=1.28; 95% CI=0.60-2.74; p=0.519; I²=0%). Subgroup analysis revealed no significant difference in recurrence rate between adjuvant chemotherapy and observation for both adult and juvenile GCTs, or between patients who underwent fertility-sparing surgery and those who did not. Additionally, no difference was found in recurrence rate between 'bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin' or 'etoposide and cisplatin' and 'paclitaxel combined with carboplatin or cisplatin' regimens.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy did not provide additional benefits in disease recurrence or survival outcomes compared to observation in stage IC GCTs.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO Identifier: CRD42024559478.