Is neo-adjuvant chemotherapy a "waiver" of extensive upper abdominal surgery in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer?

BACKGROUND

The goal of this study was to explore the necessity of extensive surgical procedures in patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

METHODS

We analyzed the surgical outcomes and frequency of extensive procedures required for maximal cytoreductive surgery after NAC and primary debulking surgery (PDS) in 256 women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

RESULTS

NAC was performed in 116 of 256 women (45.3%). In NAC group, complete cytoreduction rate and optimal cytoreduction rate were 60.3 and 92.2%, respectively. Although the NAC group comprised patients with higher risk of suboptimal cytoreduction, complete cytoreduction rate was similar to that of PDS group (57.9%, P = .69). Moreover, blood loss and surgical complexity significantly reduced in NAC group (P = .011 and .017). Extensive upper abdominal surgery (EUAS) was performed in 70 of 116 patients (60.3%) in the NAC group. The frequency of EUAS was similar between NAC and PDS group (P = .60). Among NAC group, gross upper abdominal metastasis requiring EUAS was found in 51 patients (44%, 95% confidence interval = 35.3-53.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

A significant proportion of patients who received NAC still have gross metastatic tumors requiring EUAS. Gynecologic oncologists should be familiar with EUAS and be ready to perform any required procedures together with multidisciplinary teams, even in the patients who have received NAC.