Current concepts in cancer: ovary--treatment for stages III and IV. The multimodal approach to the treatment of stage III ovarian carcinoma

Timing of Surgery and the Role of Cytoreductive Chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Ovarian Carcinoma

We retrospectively selected 27 consecutive patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma (15 stage III, 11 stage IV and 1 relapse) who had an unresectable intraabdominal tumor at presentation and prospectively evaluated the overall treatment outcome. Patients were initially treated with chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin-containing regimens in 20 cases, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide in 5, and melphalan in 2. Treatment was continued until maximal tumor response or progression. Following a median of 6 cycles of chemotherapy, all patients underwent debulking surgery. Six women were without evidence of disease and 13 had minimal residual disease after surgery, for an overall 70% rate of optimal debulking. Patients with evidence of disease at laparotomy were treated with 5 additional cycles of chemotherapy, and response was then assessed at laparotomy except for patients with progressive disease. Nine (33%) patients were pathologic complete responders at the end of the entire treatment program. Overall median survival time was 26 months, with a median relapse-free survival of 33 months. Tumor responses were not associated with any particular chemotherapy regimen. The results achieved in this series of patients together with the data from the literature suggests that use of a cytoreductive chemotherapy of short duration has the potential of increasing the rate of optimal debulking surgery. Furthermore, it may contribute to a better disease control in women with bulky ovarian carcinoma compared to the present strategy, which consists of surgery followed by chemotherapy.

Whole abdominal radiotherapy following second-look laparotomy for ovarian carcinoma

AIM

The safety and efficacy of whole abdominal radiotherapy was evaluated as salvage or consolidation treatment for ovarian cancer patients treated with primary surgery and chemotherapy, followed by second-look laparotomy (SLL). Overall survival and acute and late toxicity of treated patients were assessed.

METHODS

Patients were recruited between April 1981 and June 1994. All patients had SLL performed at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital after completion of primary chemotherapy. Data collected included demographic details, diagnosis, tumor stage, histology, grade, adjuvant chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Radiation dose and fractionation, field size, boost volume and dose, failure to complete treatment and treatment interruptions, renal dose, and acute and late toxicity were recorded.

RESULTS

Fifty-one patients were evaluated; the median age was 51 years. Median follow-up for patients still alive was 62 months. Prior to 1988, chemotherapy comprised oral chlorambucil, with or without cisplatin (n = 25), while after this date all patients (n = 26) received primary cisplatin-based therapy. A radiation dose of 22. 5 Gy over 22 fractions was planned to the whole abdomen followed by a pelvic boost of 22 Gy in 11 fractions. Radiotherapy was completed in 37 (73%) patients. Treatment interruptions were necessary in 12 (24%) patients. Thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea were the main causes of incomplete or interrupted treatment. Late bowel toxicity was seen in 6 (12%) patients, 2 of whom required laparotomy to relieve obstruction. There were no treatment-related deaths. Seven of the 51 patients are alive and free of disease, 2 died from other causes, and 2 are alive with evidence of recurrent or progressive disease. Mean follow-up time for surviving patients is 78.5 months. Overall survival at 2, 5, and 10 years was 65, 27, and 10%, respectively. Residual disease after primary surgery, smaller preirradiation tumor residuum, and completion of radiotherapy were independently associated with improved overall survival.

CONCLUSION

In this poor-prognosis group of patients, a combined approach of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, while associated with acceptable toxicity, may not afford a prolongation of survival.

[Tolerance and role of irradiation in the treatment of epithelial cancer of the ovary]

PURPOSE

In a retrospective analysis, our aim was to evaluate the immediate tolerance and the early and late complications of abdomino-pelvic radiotherapy in the Centre Alexis-Vautrin (France).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 1st January 1983 to 31st December 1993, 117 patients were treated at Centre Alexis Vautrin in Nancy for epithelial ovarian cancer by abdominal and/or pelvic irradiation after surgery. They were aged from 24 to 85 with a median of 56 years. There were ten patients with stage I (9%), 28 patients with stage II (24%), 60 patients with stage III (61%) and 19 patients with stage IV (16%) disease. Results of surgery were determined as follows: satisfactory with absence of tumoral residuum in 26% cases (30 patients) and with residuum inferior to 20 mm in 46% cases (52 patients; incomplete in 26% cases (31 patients) either because of residuum superior in 20 mm and/or incomplete surgery; and not evaluable in 3% cases (four patients). Seventy-seven patients were sent to the Centre for postoperative treatment (66% patients of the series), 48 of them (62.4%) after non-satisfactory surgery, 29 after satisfactory surgery (37.6%). Chemotherapy was administered to only 104 patients (89% cases), and contained platinum salts and cyclophosphamid for 87% of these patients. Fourteen patients (12%) received a single irradiation dose after surgery: three in stage I, three with poor evaluation of the disease in the initial stage, three with medical contraindications to chemotherapy treatment, six with contraindications due to advanced age (?? Makes 15 ). Histologically, 46% of patients had a serous adenocarcinoma, 9% a mucinous adenocarcinoma, 11% an endometrioid adenocarcinoma, 2% a clear cell adenocarcinoma, 1% an undifferentiated adenocarcinoma, and 31% an epithelial carcinoma without any other indication. The histological grade which was recently introduced was rarely indicated. Complementary radiotherapeutic treatment consisted of pelvic irradiation for 14 patients (12%), abdomino-pelvic irradiation for 63 patients (54%), and total abdominal irradiation with a pelvic boost for 40 patients (34%).

RESULTS

The immediate tolerance to irradiation can be considered as globally satisfactory since 9% of the patients (ten cases) had no problems and 64% of the patients developed a minor intolerance easily controlled by symptomatic treatments. There were also digestive complications: nausea, vomiting and diarrhea for 66% of the patients (50 cases); to a lesser extent, 20% of the cases experienced associated digestive and hematological complications (15 patients); 9% isolated hematological troubles such as anemia (seven patients); 4% digestive complications (three patients) and 1% hematological and urinary digestive troubles (one patients). Late irradiation sequelae were evaluated for 89 patients with a follow-up lasting from 4 months to 11 years. Sixty-six patients had no sequelae, eleven patients had minor tolerability problems--mainly digestive for more than half of them. Five patients presented severe complications, including hematological problems such as chronic thrombopenia in two cases, urinary-problems in two other cases, and one patient presented with a case of histologically proven malabsorption. Two patients presented major problems; one case of radic cystitis and one of radic bowel. Two patients died of iatrogenic causes: one of induced leukemia, the other of treatment-induced digestive and renal complications. The overall survival rate was 30% at 5 years and 22% at 10 years. It was 90% at 5 and 10 years for stage I patients, 60% at 5 years and 30% at 10 years for stage II patients, 22% at 5 years and 8% at 10 years for stage III patients, and finally 10% at 5 years for stage IV patients.

CONCLUSION

In this retrospective analysis of 117 epithelial ovarian cancers, treated over 10 years and which all received pelvic and/or abdominal irradiation, we can conclude that this treatment is globally well tolerated and that it yields a

Evaluation of staging, cytoreduction and second-look operation of 119 ovarian cancer patients

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted on patients with ovarian cancer in order to evaluate survival.

DESIGN

A retrospective study of 119 cases of ovarian cancer from January 1977 to December 1992 with observation until 1993.

LOCATION

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, São Paulo University.

PARTICIPANTS

Of the 119 cases, 70 (58.8%) presented epithelial carcinomas and 21 (17.6%) tumors of the sexual girdle/stroma.

DATA SOURCE

The data were obtained from the medical records of the patients.

MEASUREMENT

Statistical analysis of survival time was based on the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test with the level of significance set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

The patients with a negative second look had a mean survival of 79.4 +/- 48.5 months versus 24.2 +/- 15.1 months for patients with a positive second look (P < 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

It is concluded that patients with a negative second look present a better prognosis compared to those with residual disease.

Abdomino pelvic irradiation after second-look laparotomy for stage III ovarian carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this retrospective analysis of 34 patients with stage III ovarian carcinoma was to review results and morbidity of whole abdominal irradiation after surgery and chemotherapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

All of the 34 patients had reached a complete clinical remission after first cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy. After second-look laparotomy each patient underwent whole abdominal irradiation. Except for two patients with chronic myelosuppression, the dose administered was of 22.5 Gy to the abdominal cavity with a boost of 22.5 Gy added to the pelvis.

RESULTS

Three and 5-year overall survival rates were 62% and 43%, respectively. Three and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 53% and 38%. Twenty-three patients (68%) developed local relapse or local disease progression. Metastasis occurred in five cases and were always associated with an abdominal cavity recurrence. Residual disease after first cytoreductive surgery appeared as a prognostic factor in univariate analysis. Patients with unresected residuum had a 5-year survival probability of 35% versus 83% for patients without residual disease. We observed 12% grade-3 intestinal toxicities and one fatal case of radiation enteritis.

CONCLUSION

Despite its curative potential, the long term benefit of whole abdominal irradiation in the multimodality treatment of advanced ovarian carcinoma must be evaluated in well designed controlled trials.

Integrating radiation therapy into the management of ovarian cancer

Several studies during the last 15 years have elucidated the role of postoperative external beam radiation therapy as curative management of some subsets of patients with ovarian cancer. Despite this, the use of radiation therapy in patients with ovarian cancer has remained a controversial subject. Substantially improved cure rates have not been realized during the past decade despite the early promise of high response rates to cisplatin chemotherapy. Thus, it is important that all currently effective therapies be used for maximum therapeutic gain. This article will review the evidence that radiation therapy is curative in ovarian cancer and highlight the criteria, including stage and grade of disease and tumor residuum, by which patients suitable for such therapy are selected. The rationale for the use of whole abdominopelvic irradiation rather than pelvic or lower abdominal treatment will be discussed, as will the optimal radiation technique and its attendant morbidity. Limited data pertinent to the controversy over the use of radiation therapy versus chemotherapy in early disease, will be reviewed. The possible benefits of consolidation abdominopelvic radiation therapy after chemotherapy in highly selected patients with well-differentiated microscopic residual disease at second-look laparotomy or with no residual disease but high a risk for relapse will be considered.

Epithelial ovarian cancer: the role of radiotherapy

Although several studies during the last 10-15 years have served to clarify the role of postoperative external beam radiotherapy in patients with ovarian cancer, the subject remains controversial. This paper will review the following topics: 1. Stage I Ovarian Cancer. 2. The rationale for selecting whole abdominopelvic radiotherapy over other forms of radiotherapy, such as pelvic or lower abdominal radiotherapy. 3. The choice of radiation technique. 4. The evidence that radiotherapy is curative in ovarian cancer. 5. The toxicity of abdominopelvic radiotherapy. 6. The criteria by which patients are selected for abdominopelvic radiotherapy. 7. Radiotherapy versus chemotherapy in early disease. 8. Consolidation radiotherapy after chemotherapy in advanced disease.

Cellular glutathione (GSH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity in human ovarian tumor biopsies following exposure to alkylating agents

In vitro studies have suggested that elevated levels of the thiol glutathione (GSH) may be associated with acquired alkylating agent resistance, but there is currently little data on the relationship between elevated GSH and glutathione S-transferase levels and clinical alkylating agent resistance. In this study, GSH and glutathione S-transferase levels have been determined in 23 human ovarian tumor samples obtained prior to the onset of combination chemotherapy, and in 23 samples obtained after the development of acquired chemoresistance. GSH levels were 10-fold greater in human ovarian tumor cells obtained after alkylating agent resistance developed, than in biopsy samples obtained prior to treatment. No significant changes in the expression of total glutathione S-transferases were seen in relation to prior drug exposure.

The impact of whole-abdomen radiotherapy on survival in advanced ovarian cancer patients with minimal residual disease after chemotherapy

Between March 1982 and March 1987, 26 patients with minimal residual epithelial ovarian cancer after cisplatin-based chemotherapy were treated with whole-abdomen irradiation [moving-strip technique (MST)] with or without pelvic boost. Prior to radiation residual disease was macroscopic (less than or equal to 0.5 cm) in 8 cases and microscopic (positive random biopsies) in 18 cases (8 diffuse, 10 localized). Eighty percent of patients completed the planned therapy, 34% with interruptions secondary to hematologic or gastrointestinal toxicity. With a median follow-up time from completion of radiotherapy of 24 months, 34.6% of patients remain alive. The 3-year survival rates (from the second-look procedure) are 50% for the patients with microscopic tumor and 25% for those with macroscopic residual disease. Progression-free intervals are statistically different in the two groups: 16.9 months for microscopic residuals and 6.16 months for macroscopic tumors (P = 0.037). All but two of the recurrences were in the irradiated field (pelvis and/or abdomen); one was distant (pleural) and one only retroperitoneal. Small bowel injury was the most limiting complication: 3.8% was registered as fatal acute enteritis and 19% as late obstruction or malabsorption syndrome, necessitating surgical intervention in 10% of treated cases.

Radiation therapy in stage III ovarian cancer following surgery and chemotherapy: prognostic factors, patterns of relapse, and toxicity: a preliminary report

Twenty patients with FIGO stage III epithelial ovarian cancer who had undergone maximum cytoreductive surgery (including pelvic and paraaortic lymph node dissection) and combination chemotherapy (4-10 cycles, median 6) were treated with irradiation to the abdomen and pelvis with 30 Gy followed by diaphragmatic/paraaortic and pelvis boost fields to 42 and 51.6 Gy, respectively. Second-look laparotomy was not performed. Seventeen of 20 patients completed the planned course of radiation. In 2 cases, failure to complete treatment was related to acute hematologic toxicity, and 1 patient refused further treatment. Five patients (29%) required treatment breaks ranging from 8 to 16 days (median, 12 days) due to pancytopenia. Actuarial overall survival and relapse-free survival at 3 years for the 17 patients who completed radiation was 69 and 47%, respectively, with follow-up ranging from 19 to 53 months (median: 24, mean: 27.6 months). Seven patients (41%) relapsed within the abdomen alone and 2 patients developed extraabdominal lymph node metastasis as their sole site of failure. The prognostic factors evaluated for correlation with relapse-free survival included histologic subtype, grade, amount of residual disease at the time of surgery, and nodal involvement; only residual tumor at surgery (none vs less than or equal to 2 cm or greater than 2 cm) was found to be statistically significant (P less than 0.01). Three-year overall survival correlated with amount of residual disease following the initial cytoreductive surgery. It was 100% for patients with no residual disease, 66.7% for less than or equal to 2 cm, and 26.7% for those with greater than 2 cm residual disease, respectively. Radiation treatment was well tolerated, with only one patient developing treatment-related bowel obstruction 7 months after radiation therapy. The results of this planned trimodality treatment approach compare favorably with those reported following surgery and chemotherapy, particularly in patients who have been maximally cytoreduced.

Melphalan resistant human ovarian tumour cells are cross-resistant to photons, but not to high LET neutrons

High linear energy transfer (LET) fast neutrons for the local control of advanced head and neck tumours are currently being evaluated at several centres. Fast neutrons are believed to produce more direct, and less OH mediated damage than photons, and consequently be less affected by intracellular thiol levels. Chemoresistant tumours with elevated thiol levels may therefore be more effectively controlled by fast neutron therapy than by photons. The "in vitro" radiation response of melphalan sensitive and resistant human ovarian tumour cell lines has demonstrated that melphalan resistance confers a 1.5-fold level of cross-resistance to photons, primarily attributable to a 2-fold decrease in the alpha component in the resistant OAW42/MER cell line. Pretreatment of the melphalan-resistant line with the thiol depleting agent buthionine sulphoximine (BSO) restored the magnitude of alpha to a value similar to that in the chemosensitive cell line. The survival curves of these cell lines following neutron irradiation were near exponential, with similar values of alpha. This study has demonstrated that melphalan resistant tumour cells are cross-resistant to photon irradiation, but not to fast neutrons. The mechanism of cross-resistance has yet to be determined, but glutathione (GSH) appears to be involved.

A pilot study investigating intraoperative electron beam irradiation in the treatment of ovarian malignancies

Intraoperative electron beam radiation therapy (IOEBRT) in the treatment of ovarian malignancies was investigated at the Clement O. Miniger Radiation Oncology Center (COMROC). Nine patients were operated in the COMROC IOEBRT operating amphitheater and five were found to have disease sufficiently limited to allow for IOEBRT. The patients' ages ranged from 13 to 80 (median 53) years. Five patients had serous cystadenocarcinoma, one papillary adenocarcinoma, one mixed germ cell tumor, one squamous cell carcinoma, and one granular cell tumor of the ovary. The median survival of the non-IOEBRT group was 13 (range 12-29) months, while the IOEBRT group's median survival was 14 (range 18-46) months. All of the patients tolerated IOEBRT well without addition to the surgical morbidity.

Abdominopelvic irradiation for persistent advanced ovarian carcinoma

The efficacy and toxicity of abdominopelvic irradiation following chemotherapy and positive second look laparotomy was assessed in 15 patients with advanced ovarian epithelial carcinoma. The patients received 30 Gy abdominal and 50.4 Gy pelvic irradiation. Three of ten patients with minimal disease are disease-free 30+, 72+, and 78+ months following therapy. A fourth patient survives disease-free 24+ months following third laparotomy. No patient with bulky disease is disease-free. Bowel obstruction was encountered in 5 of 15 patients; all episodes were associated with recurrent tumor. Abdominopelvic irradiation can potentially sterilize minimal volume ovarian carcinoma that persists following chemotherapy.

The influence of cytoreductive surgery on progression-free interval and survival in epithelial ovarian cancer

In 1980, Dr George E. Moore published an editorial in Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics entitled 'Debunking debulking'. He included advanced ovarian cancer in his personal list of 'faulty' debulking procedures. Some of hist statements have merit. He contends that overly aggressive procedures that leave microscopic tumour cells that will soon grow and kill the patient are unindicated. He further points out that one cubic centimetre of tumour will contain approximately a billion cells. However, there are factors in ovarian cancer that should cause one to take exception to Dr Moore's statement. First, there is good evidence that the use of cisplatin-based multidrug chemotherapy may eradicate microscopic tumour deposits in a significant number of patients. Secondly, even multiple aggregates of tumour with a billion or more cancer cells can be eradicated in some cases, and in others can be reduced sufficiently to allow significant palliation. In evaluating the information which has been reviewed in this discussion of cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer, it is apparent that cytoreductive surgery is not only indicated, but mandated in many facets of the management of ovarian cancer. The following principles seem to be supported by the existing literature: 1. Current diagnostic techniques do not enable us to diagnose ovarian cancer while still confined to the ovary. Therefore, in the immediate future we will still encounter a large number of patients with advanced disease. 2. The number of complete clinical responses and the number of complete pathological responses (negative second-look surgical reassessments) are greatest in those patients who begin adjunctive therapy with minimal residual disease. 3. Median duration of survival is longer, and long-term survival more likely, in those patients giving complete clinical or complete pathological responses. 4. Some patients appear to benefit from secondary cytoreductive surgery. However, at the present time, evidence of benefit from secondary cytoreductive surgery appears to be limited to those patients who have responded to adjunctive therapy and are found to have residual disease at surgical reassessment. There is no good evidence to support secondary cytoreductive surgery as an 'interval' procedure or its use in patients with progression on primary adjunctive therapy. This development of better chemotherapy regimens, such as cisplatin-based chemotherapy, has resulted in a greater need for effective primary cytoreductive surgery as it is apparent that, on utilizing these new regimens, better results are obtained in patients with minimal residual disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Treatment of advanced ovarian cancer with surgery, chemotherapy, and consolidation of response by whole-abdominal radiotherapy

Between April 1981 and June 1985, 195 patients with ovarian cancer, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Stages IIB, IIC, III, and IV, entered a trial that consisted of surgery and chemotherapy with cisplatin (P) and melphalan (PAM) with or without hexamethylmelamine (HexaPAMP or PAMP regimens) every 4 weeks for 6 cycles. Because the intent was to study the outcome by treatment after evaluation of first-line chemotherapy, patients were evaluable only if the response was assessed by a second-look operation or if measurable disease progression was documented. One hundred fifty-eight patients (81%) were evaluable for response. Forty-five (28%) achieved pathologically confirmed complete remissions (pCR), and 24 of these patients received whole-abdominal radiation (WAR) for consolidation of response. Five patients with complete remission after WAR relapsed, as did nine of the 21 with complete remission who had not undergone WAR. The 3-year time to progression percentage (TTP +/- SE) from second-look operation was 70% +/- 7% for all patients who achieved pCR, 83% +/- 8% for those who received WAR, and 49% +/- 15% for those who did not receive WAR (this was not a randomized comparison). The 3-year TTP percentage for the 49 partial responders was 21% +/- 6%, identical for the 19 who had WAR and the 30 who had no radiation therapy. Additional or alternative methods for consolidation of pCR are needed since patients continue to relapse despite optimal initial response to therapy.

Salvage radiotherapy for carcinoma of the ovary following chemotherapy

Following single-agent or combination chemotherapy, 9 patients with epithelial carcinoma of the ovary had elective second-look laparotomy. Macroscopic intraperitoneal disease was resected in 4 patients. Therefore, after the laparotomy, all 9 patients had only biopsy-proven, microscopic residual disease, and they received whole abdominopelvic irradiation. Hematological tolerance was satisfactory, with only 2 patients developing asymptomatic thrombocytopenia. Mild gastrointestinal reactions, while frequent during radiotherapy, did not interrupt treatment in any patient. After follow-up from 12 to 34 months (median 16 months) [corrected], 2 patients died of cancer, 2 were alive with cancer, 3 were alive without clinical recurrence, and 2 were alive without biopsy-proven recurrence. Bowel complication occurred in 4 patients: 2 developed intestinal obstruction due to recurrent tumor, 1 developed subacute bowel obstruction which spontaneously resolved, and 1 patient required bowel resection because of a radiation complication. This study indicated that after single- or multiple-drug chemotherapy, most patients could complete the course of whole abdominopelvic irradiation. Gastrointestinal complications could be secondary to radiation damage or to recurrent tumor. While whole abdominopelvic irradiation was not an effective second-line treatment, some long-term survivors could still be expected.

Whole abdomen radiation for minimal residual epithelial ovarian carcinoma after surgical resection and maximal first-line chemotherapy

Ten patients with Stage III epithelial ovarian received whole abdomen radiation therapy after extensive courses of chemotherapy and second or third laparotomies. All patients had less than 2-mm diameter residual disease. The major side effect was bone marrow suppression which led to decreased dose or field size in four patients. Five patients have recurred and three of these have died. Further treatment after recurrence was compromised by bone marrow suppression. While 40-50% of selected patients may respond to this approach, numerous alternatives are being explored that would not handicap further treatment to the same degree and may have equal response rates.

Whole abdominal irradiation following chemotherapy in advanced ovarian carcinoma

One hundred and sixteen patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma, who underwent primary cytoreductive surgery, received 6-11 courses of chemotherapy by cis-platin (50 mg/m2) and adriamycin (50 mg/m2) every 21 days. This was followed by second look laparotomy in 66 patients with no clinical evidence of disease. Consolidation abdominal irradiation was administered to 43 patients. Two techniques of irradiation were employed: between 1980-1983 whole abdominal irradiation was used and patients were to receive 3000 cGy in 4 weeks (Schedule I). Due to myelosuppression only 13 of 26 patients (50%) completed the planned dose of radiation. Between 1983-1985 the target volume was divided into upper and lower parts. First, the lower abdomen received 3000 cGy in 3 weeks, and then the upper abdomen received the same dose (Schedule II). Sixteen of seventeen patients (94%) thus treated, completed the planned dose of radiation. The actuarial survival for all 116 patients was 28% of 5 years. Irradiated patients with negative second look laparotomy had a survival probability of 100% at 24 months. Irradiated patients with microscopic disease at second look operation had an actuarial 5-year survival of 66%. Patients with minimal residual disease at second look laparotomy, receiving consolidation abdominal irradiation, had an actuarial survival of 5% only at 36 months. It is concluded that consolidation radiotherapy is effective in patients with negative or microscopic residual disease at second-look laparotomy. In regard to bone marrow tolerance, split field technique of irradiation is preferred.

The treatment of advanced stage ovarian carcinoma with a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and radiosensitizer: report of a pilot study from the National Cancer Institute

Twenty-eight patients with Stage III or IV ovarian carcinoma were treated with combined chemotherapy-radiotherapy employing a unique protocol. Four cycles of cyclophosphamide and hexamethylmelamine alternated with four cycles of concurrent cisplatin, whole abdominal radiotherapy, and intraperitoneal misonidazole. The entire treatment program lasted six months. Clinical complete responses were seen in 50% of the patients with an overall response rate of 61%. Pathologic complete response (PCR) confirmed at second look surgery occurred in 18% of the group (5 patients). Median survival of the entire group was 15.2 months with all PCR's alive NED. This outcome was no different than our previous experience with combination chemotherapy alone. Toxicities seen included leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. However, these side effects were manageable. Two non-tumor deaths occurred. This study demonstrates the feasibility of combining drug and radiation therapy concurrently in the treatment of ovarian cancer; further research is needed to explore different sequencing and dose levels that could improve the outcome.

Use of indium-111-labeled OC-125 monoclonal antibody in the detection of ovarian cancer

This is a preliminary study to evaluate the utility of using the monoclonal antibody (CO-125) labeled with indium-111 to image recurrences of ovarian cancer. This technique has been investigated in 23 patients with ovarian cancer and the results have been compared with blood OC-125 levels, CT scans, and findings at second-look surgery. Following infusion of 1 mg of F(ab')2 fragments (1-2 mCi 111In), quantitative SPECT and planar imaging was obtained daily for 72 hr along with analysis of serum. The nuclear medicine scans of the tumor site recurrences were technically excellent. When compared to second-look laparotomy, there were 2 true negatives, 2 false positives, 14 true positives, and 2 false negatives by nuclear imaging. CT scans correlated less well with surgery, but serum OC-125 levels correlate more closely with nuclear scans and second-look surgery. Those with multiple small metastatic implants showed a pattern of diffuse uptake which increased with time, whereas those with nodal or larger recurrences showed a more focal uptake. The combination of favorable biodistribution and positive images, especially in patients with normal antigen levels and negative CT scans, suggests a role for OC-125 monoclonal antibody imaging in their clinical management. However, further investigation is needed to determine whether nuclear scans can replace second-look surgery. If it can show that enough 111In-labeled antibody accumulates in the tumor site to justify radioimmunotherapy, then 90Y (a pure beta emitter) could be exchanged for 111In. This is potentially a method of radioimmunotherapy for recurrent ovarian carcinoma.

Sequential multi-agent chemotherapy and whole abdominal irradiation for stage III ovarian carcinoma

Modern therapy for stage III ovarian carcinoma patients usually involves one or more laparotomies with maximal resection of tumor, and intensive multi-agent chemotherapy. However, with long-term follow-up only 10-15% of patients remain free of disease. In the hope of improving outcome, we have treated 17 women with sequential multimodality therapy, including initial surgical resection (if possible), cyclophosphamide-adriamycin +/- cis-platinum, second-look surgery, and whole abdominal irradiation. Seven patients are currently alive without disease, with median follow-up of 52 months since initiation of radiation and 60 months since initiation of chemotherapy. Disease-free survival correlated with residual tumor at the start of radiotherapy: none (4/4); microscopic, less than or equal to 5 mm (3/4); greater than 5 mm or no surgery (0/9). Survival also correlated with tumor grade: grade 1 (2/2); grade 2 (2/3); grade 3 (3/11). Hematological tolerance of radiotherapy was dependent upon the number of chemotherapy cycles: ten of 11 patients receiving less than or equal to eight cycles completed radiotherapy without excessive delay, compared with only one of five receiving greater than eight cycles. There were no treatment-related deaths and only one patient required laparotomy for bowel obstruction. We conclude that intensive multimodal treatment may be tolerated moderately well if the amount of chemotherapy is limited, and that further studies are justified.

Involvement of the central nervous system by ovarian carcinoma

Ovarian carcinoma rarely metastasizes to the central nervous system (CNS). Of 110 patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma treated at the Northern Israel Oncology Center between the years 1979 and 1985, only five (4.5%) had CNS involvement. The median age of the patients with 54.5 years. All of them had treatment with cisplatin and Adriamycin (doxorubicin). The median duration from diagnosis to the development of brain involvement was 17 months. The median survival time was 28 months from diagnosis of carcinoma and 2 months from diagnosis of CNS disease. The increased incidence of this kind of metastasis in patients achieving local control of their advanced disease suggests that a change in the pattern of metastatic spread or the prolonged survival permits occult CNS metastases to become apparent. A routine computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan of the brain should therefore be performed on patients with ovarian carcinoma with prolonged survival.

Abdominopelvic irradiation for stage II-IV ovarian carcinoma patients with limited or no residual disease at second-look laparotomy after completion of cisplatinum-based combination chemotherapy

Abdominopelvic irradiation was given to 18 stage II-IV ovarian carcinoma patients who completed cisplatinum-based combination chemotherapy, were in complete clinical remission, and who underwent second-look laparotomy. The survival as well as the progression-free interval (PFI) was significantly longer in patients with a negative second-look laparotomy than in those with limited residual disease at this operation. Abdominopelvic irradiation was not effective in patients with limited residual disease at second-look laparotomy (3 year survival--34.3% and median PFI from second-look laparotomy--4.8 months). Even in patients with a negative second-look laparotomy the median PFI was only 13 months from this operation and the 3-year survival was 87.5%. The results were similar to other comparable series in which no treatment was administered to patients with a negative second-look laparotomy.

A review of second-look laparotomy for ovarian cancer

One hundred twenty-seven patients underwent second-look laparotomies from July 1969 to June 1982. To be included in this report they must have met the following criteria: a documented ovarian neoplasm; previous surgery; adequate chemotherapy for cessation if no disease was found; and no X-ray, chemical, or clinical evidence of disease including an exam under anesthesia. Forty-one percent had residual disease at second-look laparotomy. The original stage and the percentage of tumor debulked at initial surgery were inversely related to the likelihood of finding residual disease. Age, histologic type and grade, and type of chemotherapy did not show a significant relationship with the likelihood of disease persisting. Recurrent tumor was subsequently detected in 16% of patients who had been found to be free of disease at second-look laparotomy. Of thirty stage III and IV patients treated with combinations containing cis-platinum, 10 (33%) had recurrences. This rate of recurrence was significantly greater than the 17.6% recurrence rate in 17 patients with Stage III and IV disease whose chemotherapy consisted of single alkylating agents or with combinations without cis-platinum. Twenty patients underwent a third-look laparotomy after completion of additional chemotherapy. Nine were found to have no residual disease. Two of the nine (22%) subsequently had recurrence of disease. Three of the eleven patients with persistent disease at the time of a third-look laparotomy underwent a fourth-look laparotomy. All were found free of disease and none have recurred. Six (55%) of those with persistent disease at the third-look laparotomy have died despite continued therapy. The ability to successfully treat some patients with persistent disease continues to be a justification for the use of a second-look laparotomy. However, the high rate of recurrence after cessation of treatment following the finding of no residual disease raises the question of whether it is appropriate to discontinue all therapy at this time.

Serum copper level in ovarian carcinoma

Serum copper levels (SCL) were determined before any diagnostic procedure was performed or treatment given in 40 women admitted for the investigation of a pelvic mass and, later, in those patients with ovarian carcinoma after chemotherapy and before a second-look operation was performed. Patients with ovarian carcinoma were found to have significantly higher SCL than patients with benign ovarian lesions. A SCL of 150 micrograms/dl clearly separated patients with a pelvic mass on the basis of ovarian carcinoma and those with benign noninflammatory pelvic lesions. The same SCL of 150 micrograms/dl separated patients with ovarian carcinoma that responded to chemotherapy and those with residual disease. It is suggested that SCL be included as a member of the screening panel of biologic tumor markers in general and in ovarian carcinoma in particular.

Multimodal approach (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy) in the treatment of advanced ovarian carcinoma

Forty-five patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma without prior chemotherapy were treated with cisplatin-Adriamycin (doxorubicin) combination, 50 mg/m2 intravenously, for 11 cycles. Second-look operation (SLO) was performed in patients without evidence of disease at the end of chemotherapy. Abdominopelvic irradiation was administered to those found to have microscopic or minimal disease (tumor less than 2 cm) at SLO. Forty patients were evaluable. Chemotherapy induced complete response in 56.7% and partial response in 16.7%. In 25% of the reoperated patients, no tumor was found; 30% had microscopic disease; 25% had minimal disease; and 20% had larger tumors. Two-year survival rate was 45%. The residual tumor left at initial operation, the histologic grade, and the response to chemotherapy influenced survival. Toxicity was moderate. There were three treatment-related deaths (one due to sepsis, one due to cardiotoxicity, and one at SLO, respectively). Radiotherapy was poorly tolerated after chemotherapy. The median duration of follow-up was 21.5 months. Further follow-up is needed to study the long-term benefits of this multimodal approach.

High-dose metoclopramide as an antiemetic in patients receiving cis-platinum-based combination chemotherapy

Thirty-seven patients with advanced malignancies, who received cis-platinum-based combination chemotherapy, were evaluated for the antiemetic efficacy of high-dose metoclopramide. Most of the patients suffered from ovarian carcinoma. The dose of metoclopramide was 7.5 or 10 mg/kg per course. A total of 69 courses were given to 37 patients and in 22% of the courses, nausea and vomiting were eliminated altogether. In an additional 48% of the courses, a partial protection from chemotherapy-induced emesis was evident. No serious side effects were observed. The administration of high-dose metoclopramide is recommended for prevention of cis-platinum chemotherapy-induced emesis.

Combined modality treatment for stage III ovarian carcinoma

Thirty-eight Stage III ovarian carcinoma patients were treated with a combined modality protocol consisting of sequential initial surgery with a maximal tumor reduction, CHAD combination chemotherapy, second look reductive surgery and whole abdominal irradiation. Sixteen patients (42%) had minimal residual tumors (less than 2 cm) after initial surgery (Stage IIIA) and 22 (58%) had large residual tumors (greater than 2 cm) (Stage IIIB). The patients received 3-14 courses of CHAD combination chemotherapy, with a response rate (CR + PR) in the evaluable (Stage IIIB) patients of 91%. Twenty-eight patients had a second attempt of cytoreductive operation (10 Stage IIIA patients and 18 Stage IIIB patients). In 10 patients no residual tumor was found. In another 12 patients residual tumor (less than 2 cm) was found and completely resected, whereas in six patients a complete resection of large residual tumors (greater than 2 cm) was not possible. Twenty-one of the patients also completed a course of whole abdominal radiotherapy. Radiation was well-tolerated with the usual expected amounts of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and transient leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. 11/21 (52%) of the patients relapsed within the first 18 months after completion of radiotherapy. The actuarial relapse-free survival at 36 months from completions of radiotherapy was 44%. The actuarial survival for the whole group from diagnosis was 43% at 3 years (70% for Stage IIIA and 41% for Stage IIIB). The data indicated that this combined modality protocol is both feasible and well-tolerated but its curative potential for patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma is as yet unknown.

Spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage in a patient with ovarian carcinoma

A patient with an advanced adenocarcinoma of the ovary developed spontaneous central nervous system (CNS) bleeding as initial evidence of brain involvement by a tumor. The rarity of this phenomenon in patients with ovarian tumors is emphasized and the incidence and course of brain metastases in ovarian cancer are reviewed. Similar to previous reports, our patient had extra abdominal systemic disease at the time CNS involvement was diagnosed. Although good short-term results were achieved with whole-brain irradiation, the prognosis for these patients remains dismal. The incidence of brain metastases may increase in patients with advanced ovarian malignancies given the possibility of achieving long-term survival in a significant percentage of women with widespread disease being currently treated with intensive systemic chemotherapy.

Whole-abdomen radiation in patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma after surgery, chemotherapy, and second-look laparotomy

Forty-three patients with ovarian carcinoma were treated with whole-abdomen radiation (moving strip +/- pelvic radiation), 15 patients had not received prior chemotherapy, and 28 patients were irradiated following chemotherapy and second-look laparotomy. Ten of these had been treated with a variety of chemotherapy regimens (L-PAM, CHAD, Hexa-CAF). Eighteen patients were treated in an ongoing prospective trial with combination chemotherapy consisting of melphalan, cis-platinum, and hexamethylmelamine++ (HexaPAMP). Thrombocytopenia was the limiting toxicity. A temporary pause in the radiation schedule allowing platelets to recover made it possible to complete treatment in 80% of the patients. The acute toxic effects, which included the expected side effects of radiation therapy on intestine, liver and lung, were not more frequent or more severe in the patients who had received prior chemotherapy than in those who had radiation therapy alone. Thirty-four of 43 patients (stage I, seven patients; stage II, seven patients; stage III, 27 patients; stage IV, two patients) are alive and without evidence of disease 26 + months (range 7 to 64 months) after entering the postsurgical treatment program.