Critical reassessment of second‐look exploratory laparotomy for epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Minimal diagnostic and therapeutic value in patients with persistent cancer

D. S. Miller, N. M. Spirtos, S. C. Ballon, R. S. Cox, O. M. Soriero, N. N H Teng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

From 1979 to 1984, 88 women with epithelial ovarian cancer were treated with surgery and chemotherapy, achieved a clinical complete response, and then had “second‐look” exploratory laparotomy to assess the pathologic status of their disease. Persistent cancer was found in 50 (57%) patients: 34 of 50 (68%) had gross tumor, which was larger than 2 cm in 12 (24%) and smaller than 2 cm in 22 (44%), and 16 (32%) had microscopic disease. Salvage therapy was as follows for these patients: whole abdominal irradiation, 29 (58%); chemotherapy, 17 (34%); intraperitoneal chromic phosphate, 1 (2%); and no further therapy, 3 (6%). With a follow‐up time of 4 to 8 years, 7 (14%) patients are alive without evidence of cancer, 7 (14%) are alive with disease, 35 (70%) are dead of disease, and 1 (2%) has died of treatment complications. At 5 years, the relapse‐free rate was 18% and the survival rate was 25%. Seventy‐two parameters of suspected prognostic significance and 64 potential sites of tumor involvement were correlated with survival in a univariate analysis. The factors favorably affecting survival included the following: lower grade; microscopic tumor versus gross disease at second‐look laparotomy; removal of the uterus; removal of the omentum; pelvic and paraaortic lymph node biopsy; negative results of a right diaphragm biopsy; and radiation therapy at Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California. There was no survival advantage for whole abdomen irradiation‐compared with chemotherapy or for the patients who had their disease successfully debulked at second‐look laparotomy. The above factors and others were evaluated by multivariate regression. The best model (P = 0.000004) for predicting survival included largest tumor mass (P = 0.0002), operative blood loss (P = 0.002), perioperative blood transfusion (P = 0.003), and grade (P = 0.004). The detection of persistent ovarian cancer by second‐look exploratory laparotomy should identify a subgroup of patients whose conditions can be salvaged by a second‐line therapy. Unfortunately, that subgroup is small (8%) and an effective salvage therapy remains to be identified.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)502-510
Number of pages9
JournalCancer
Volume69
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 15 1992

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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