A case of early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer in pregnancy

High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer during Pregnancy: From Diagnosis to Treatment

BACKGROUND

Due to the rarity of ovarian cancer diagnosed during pregnancy, the literature on the treatment of subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancer in pregnancy is sparse. The aim of our review was to analyze cases of high-grade serous ovarian cancer in pregnancy.

METHODS

The PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for relevant articles published in English between January 2000 and December 2023. The references of all the relevant reviews found were also checked to avoid omitting eligible studies. Information on the all retrieved cases was extracted and reviewed in detail. The most important detail was the subtype of high-grade serous ovarian cancer, which was referred to as serous adenocarcinoma (grade 2 or grade 3) in older cases.

RESULTS

We found eleven cases with relevant details of high-grade serous ovarian cancer diagnosed in pregnancy. Despite the small number of cases we found, our study demonstrated the importance of an accurate initial vaginal ultrasound at the first examination in pregnancy and the safety of diagnostic surgery and chemotherapy in pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

There have not been long-term follow-ups of patients' oncologic and obstetric outcomes. As patients should be comprehensively informed, more detailed case reports or series with longer follow-up periods are needed.

The Safety of Chemotherapy for Ovarian Malignancy during Pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Data on epidemiologic features, treatments and outcomes in women diagnosed with ovarian malignancy during pregnancy are very sparse due to its low incidence. The goal of our study was to summarize the epidemiologic characteristics of pregnant women complicated with ovarian malignancy and investigate the safety and efficacy of chemotherapy during pregnancy.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data of eight patients suffering from ovarian malignancy during pregnancy in our institution from June 2011 to July 2021. Furthermore, a systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed up to 1 September 2021, which identified 92 cases with ovarian malignancy during pregnancy eligible for the analysis. Therefore, we collected the data of 100 pregnant patients complicated with ovarian malignancy, including clinical demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment interventions and outcomes.

RESULTS

In total, 100 pregnant patients complicated with ovarian malignancy were investigated and classified into three groups: 34 cases in the epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) group, 38 cases in the germ cell tumors (GCTs) group and 28 cases in the sex cord-stromal tumors (SCSTs) group. The onset age of pregnant patients with epithelial ovarian cancer was significantly higher than that of other patients. Pelvic mass and abdominal pain were the common clinical presentations of pregnant patients with ovarian malignancy. For distinguishing epithelial ovarian cancer during pregnancy, the area under the curve (AUC) of CA-125 was 0.718 with an optimal cutoff value of 58.2 U/mL. Moreover, 53 patients underwent surgery during pregnancy, the majority of whom underwent unilateral adnexectomy in the second trimester. Furthermore, 43 patients received chemotherapy during pregnancy, and 28 delivered completely healthy newborns at birth; 13 neonates showed transient abnormalities without further complications; and 2 died during the neonatal period.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study reveals the safety of chemotherapy for ovarian malignancy during pregnancy. However, large-sample prospective studies are still needed to further explore the safety of chemotherapy in pregnant patients with malignancy to choose the appropriate chemotherapy regimen and achieve the maximum benefit for patients.

Efficacy and Safety of Platinum-Based Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction

Based on the available data on ovarian cancer during pregnancy, we performed a review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of platinum-based chemotherapy against ovarian cancer during pregnancy.

Methods

We systematically searched three databases including the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for articles published from January 1986 to December 2020 using the following terms: “ovarian tumors OR ovarian carcinoma OR adnexal masses OR ovarian cancer” AND “pregnancy” AND “chemotherapy.” Two authors (Yaping Pei and Yuanfeng Gou) independently searched the literature and extracted data from each eligible study. The outcome measures were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The OS and PFS of all patients were estimated by Kaplan–Meier survival curves and log-rank tests.

Results

A total of 43 studies including 55 cases of ovarian cancer during pregnancy were selected. Forty-eight patients were comprehensively staged using the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system. Twenty-six of the 48 patients (54.17%) were diagnosed with early-stage disease, while the remaining had advanced stages (II, III, and IV). The mean age at diagnosis was 29.31 years. The majority of patients in this meta-analysis were diagnosed at a mean gestational age of 16.05 weeks. The mean GA at chemotherapy administration was 17.42 weeks. Overall, 55 women gave birth to 56 newborns, including a pair of twins. At the end of follow-up (median 10 months, range 0–73 months), all the children were healthy, except for one child who died 5 days after delivery due to a congenital abnormality. During 2–204 months of follow-up, there were five cases of recurrence, with no evidence of recurrence in the remaining cases. Unfortunately, one patient died 29 months after diagnosis. Neither median overall survival nor median progression-free survival was obtained.

Conclusion

Platinum-based chemotherapy may be a good choice for pregnant women with ovarian cancer who want to continue their pregnancy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40487-021-00179-9.

Chemotherapy for ovarian cancer during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of case reports and series

AIM

This study aims to investigate the safety and efficacy of chemotherapy in ovarian cancer patients in pregnancy.

METHODS

In this study, eligible studies were searched on PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases up to December 31, 2020. Data were calculated and presented by frequency and percentage, mean ± standard deviation (SD), and median (range), respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to estimate overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Finally, 34 studies including 40 ovarian cancer cases receiving chemotherapy during pregnancy were included. All 40 patients received chemotherapy during pregnancy. During the follow-up, seven of 37 (18.9%) women had a relapse and four of them (4/7, 57.1%) died of recurrence. Survival analysis failed to reach median OS and PFS within the follow-up (range 3-72 months). Better OS and PFS after chemotherapy in pregnancy were obtained in women with early-stage ovarian cancer (I) compared with those with advanced stage (III-IV). Neither OS nor FS differed between women treated with multi-drugs and those with monotherapy. Forty-one newborns were delivered from 40 pregnant women. Thirty-four (34/41, 82.9%) were completely healthy at birth and the end of follow-up (range 0.18-160 months). However, one newborn died 5 days after birth due to multiple congenital malformations, and another one developed Tourette's syndrome, aphasia, Asperger's syndrome as well as speech delay.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis first reveals the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy for ovarian cancer during pregnancy, especially for early-stage patients. Cisplatin or carboplatin is suggested to be used as monotherapy to reduce adverse effects.

A review on pregnancy complicated by ovarian epithelial and non-epithelial malignant tumors: Diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives

The management of gestational ovarian cancer can be challenging because of the risk of fetal wastage, and the possibility of treatment-related complications to the fetus; it is based on insufficient data from retrospective studies and case series. Here, a literature review of the diagnostic and surgical approaches to the gestational ovarian cancer has been performed; moreover, data on safety of chemotherapeutic treatments in pregnancy, including both oncologic and fetal outcomes, have also been reviewed. Up to now, 193 cases of ovarian cancers during pregnancy have been reported in the English literature. Treatment of ovarian malignancies during pregnancy depends on histology, stage, and gestational weeks. When possible, surgical excision is indicated, and fertility-sparing surgery can be offered to stage I epithelial ovarian tumours (EOC), germ cell ovarian, or sex-cord stromal ovarian tumours. Neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced ovarian tumours is indicated as in non-pregnant women. Administration of chemotherapy after the first trimester, can cause fetal growth restriction, while being seemingly safe. The therapeutic approach of ovarian cancer in pregnancy should be individualized and intended in specialized centers.

Feto-maternal outcomes of pregnancy complicated by epithelial ovarian cancer: a systematic review of literature

Although cancer diagnosed during pregnancy is rare, epithelial cell type ovarian cancers (EOCs) comprise approximately one quarter to one half of cases of ovarian malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy. The behavior of EOC during pregnancy and its implications for maternal and fetal outcomes is not well understood. In order to better define these outcomes, a systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE using entry keywords "pregnancy" and "ovarian cancer" for the period from 1955 to 2013. The literature search identified 105 cases eligible for analysis. Clinical characteristics, pregnancy outcome, tumor characteristics, clinical management, and survival outcomes were all evaluated. Serious adverse events were defined as complications related to EOC that resulted in severe morbidity or mortality for the mother and/or fetus. The mean age of cases was 31.6 years. The most common histology was serous (47.6%), followed by mucinous (27.6%) and endometrioid types (10.5%). The most common presenting symptom was abdominal or pelvic pain (26.7%) while incidentally detected tumors accounted for one third of cases. The majority of cases were stage I at diagnosis (63.8%) followed by stage III disease (24.8%), and the median tumor size was 12cm. Live births occurred in 81.3% of cases, and of the remainder 72.2% were due to elective termination. Intrapartum surgery primarily took place in the second trimester (43%) with fetal conservation in 61.9% of operations. Over half of cases received chemotherapy (55.2%), approximately one third of which received it during the pregnancy (36.2%). Among the 21 cases treated with chemotherapy during pregnancy, there was no association with small for gestational age or fetal malformations. Serious adverse events occurred in 21.9% of cases, of which the most common was tumor rupture during pregnancy (10.5%). Three (2.9%) maternal death following surgery during pregnancy and five (6.4%) neonatal deaths were reported. Gestational age at tumor diagnosis (2-year overall survival rate, 1st trimester 94.6%, 2nd trimester 88.8%, and 3rd trimester 72.9%, p=0.041) type of histology (serous 88.1%, mucinous 84.6%, endometrioid 89.5%, clear cell 100%, mixed type 75.0%, and undifferentiated 30.0%, p<0.01), stage (stage I 96.9%, stage II 85.7%, stage III 56.3%, and stage IV 25.0%, p<0.01), and serious adverse events (yes versus no, 68.1% versus 92.2%, p=0.041) were significantly related to maternal overall survival in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, stage III/IV disease remained the independent prognostic factor associated with decreased maternal overall survival (stage III, hazard ratio 44.6, p<0.01; and stage IV, hazard ratio 399, p<0.01). In conclusion, although the majority of EOC cases during pregnancy resulted in live birth, maternal and neonatal mortality needs to be considered in the counseling and management of these pregnancies.

Successful management of mucinous ovarian cancer by conservative surgery in week 6 of pregnancy: case report and literature review

Purpose

The management of ovarian cancer during pregnancy is still a big challenge, mostly due to the reciprocal impacts between cancer and pregnancy. The objective of this article is to present a rare case of maternal ovarian adenocarcinoma and review published similar cases about this clinical condition.

Materials and methods

Here we report a rare case of maternal ovarian adenocarcinoma detected during gestational week 6, with good pregnancy outcome treated with conservative surgery.

Results and discussion

A case of maternal ovarian adenocarcinoma (stage I) was detected in week 6 of pregnancy receiving conservative surgery without chemotherapy. In week 39 of pregnancy, due to relapse of the cancer, the patient underwent excision of the isolated tumor, and gave birth to a healthy baby through cesarian section. After that, the patient received cytoreductive surgery associated with six chemotherapy. The patient was finally diagnosed as epithelial ovarian cancer stage IIIC, and had survived more than 5 years without relapse. The successful experience from this case suggested that pregnancy complicated with early ovarian cancer receiving conservative surgery could continue to pregnancy and the effect of cesarian section followed with cytoreductive surgery associated with six chemotherapy at full term was still satisfied.

Gynaecological cancers in pregnancy

Cervical and ovarian cancers are the most common gynaecological cancers diagnosed during pregnancy. In early-stage cervical cancer during the first and at the beginning of the second trimester, the two main considerations for management of the patient are the tumour size (and stage) and nodal staging. MRI and laparoscopic lymphadenectomy are useful for clinicians planning a potentially conservative approach. The management of patients with locally advanced cervical disease is controversial and should be discussed on a case-by-case basis according to the tumour size, radiological findings, the term of pregnancy, and the patient's wishes. Different histological types of malignant ovarian diseases arise during pregnancy and their management depends on the diagnosis (histological subtypes, tumour differentiation, and nodal status), the tumour stage, and the trimester of the pregnancy. In patients with peritoneal spread or high-risk early-stage disease, neoadjuvant chemotherapy with pregnancy preservation could be appropriate.

Treatment of the pregnant mother with cancer: a systematic review on the use of cytotoxic, endocrine, targeted agents and immunotherapy during pregnancy. Part I: Solid tumors

The association of cancer and pregnancy is increasingly encountered nowadays in clinical practice. Due to the relative rarity of the situation, it lacks a systematized approach. Different systemic therapies are used in managing cancer with uncertainty regarding the potential hazards they could pose on the pregnancy and/or the fetus. We have performed a systematic review of literature to identify all reports addressing cancer patients who were exposed to any of the known systemic therapies during the course of the pregnancy. The results were discussed in two parts; part I addresses pregnant patients with solid tumors while part I for those with hematological malignancies. In part I, we identified different solid tumors diagnosed and treated during the course of pregnancy. Breast cancer was the most commonly treated followed by ovarian cancer. Other tumors were treated as well including lung cancer, cervical cancer, sarcoma and melanomas. It is important to acknowledge the intent of therapy (palliative vs. curative) and the patients has to be properly counseled to reach an informed decision. We aim to provide a more robust consensus on how to approach these cases and provide a higher degree of evidence to support the safety of applying certain management strategies over the other.

[French recommendations for ovarian cancer management during pregnancy]

Evaluation of the fetus using prenatal ultrasound has resulted in increased detection of asymptomatic adnexal masses during pregnancy. Such masses are rarely malignant (1/10 000 to 1/50 000 pregnancies), but the possibility of borderline or cancer must be considered. It is a common assumption by both patients and physicians that if an ovarian cancer is diagnosed during pregnancy, treatment necessitates sacrificing the well-being of the fetus. However, in most cases, it is possible to offer appropriate treatment to the mother without placing the fetus at serious risk. The care of a pregnant woman with cancer involves evaluation of sometimes competing maternal and fetal risks and benefits. These recommendation approaches attempt to balance these risks and benefits; however, they should be considered advisory and should not replace specific interdisciplinary consultation with specialists in maternal-fetal medicine, gynecologic oncology, and pediatrics, as well as imaging and pathology, as needed. Second level ultrasound including Doppler is needed. MRI is not often necessary, and CA 125 is of low contribution. We suggest surgery be performed after 15 SA for ovarian masses which (1) persist into the second trimester, (2) are greater than 5 to 10 cm in diameter, or (3) have solid or mixed solid and cystic ultrasound characteristics. During antepartum surgical staging and debulking, homolateral salpingo-oophorectomy and peritoneal cytology and exploration are necessary. Women found to have advanced stage epithelial ovarian cancer should consider having completion of the debulking of the reproductive organs at the conclusion of the pregnancy. If chemotherapy is indicated, we recommend delaying administration, if possible, after the delivery or at least after 20 SA in order to minimize the potential fetal toxicity.

Carboplatin chemotherapy in a pregnant patient with undifferentiated ovarian carcinoma: case report and review of the literature

There are already 12 reports of women treated by chemotherapy for epithelial ovarian cancer during pregnancy. However, most cases received chemotherapy of single cisplatin or cisplatin-based regime, and only four cases received carboplatin-containing chemotherapy. We report the case of a woman treated with single-agent carboplatin during pregnancy. The patient underwent bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy at 18 weeks of gestation and was diagnosed as having stage IC undifferentiated ovarian carcinoma. She was treated with four courses of carboplatin (area under the curve = 6.0) chemotherapy during pregnancy without severe toxicity. At 33 weeks of gestation, cesarean section was performed, followed by total hysterectomy, omentectomy, and pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. No residual disease was histologically shown. The patient underwent additional chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel. After one year of follow-up, the baby shows normal growth and the patient has no evidence of disease. Postponing the termination of pregnancy by single-agent carboplatin chemotherapy during pregnancy might be considered as an option for therapy in selected women with ovarian malignancies.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy in a Pregnant Woman With Endodermal Sinus Tumor of the Ovary

BACKGROUND

The administration of chemotherapeutic drugs during pregnancy is rare. We describe a case of malignant ovarian tumor complicating pregnancy.

CASE

After laparotomy at 18 weeks of gestation, the patient received three courses of cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin. Elective cesarean delivery was performed at 31 weeks of gestation. A normal infant was delivered, and no evidence of tumor recurrence was observed. Metastasis to the liver was detected in the fifth month after delivery. However, this was treated successfully with three courses of cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin. There was no evidence of recurrence observed at 65 months after the initial treatment.

CONCLUSION

Although the risk of chemotherapy to the fetus cannot be assessed based on a single case, this experience is encouraging.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy for invasive cervical cancer diagnosed during pregnancy: report of a case and review of the literature

Although cervical carcinoma is among the most frequently encountered malignancies during pregnancy, only four cases of neoadjuvant chemotherapy during pregnancy have been reported. A 28-year-old A0P1G2M0 was diagnosed at 15 weeks with stage Ib1 invasive squamous cervical cancer. Because she strongly desired the continuation of this pregnancy, after extensive counseling she was treated with 75 mg/m(2) cisplatin every 10 days starting at 17 weeks. After six cycles, clinically and radiologically stable disease with normalization of the squamous cell carcinoma tumor marker was obtained. An elective cesarean delivery followed by radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy was performed at 32 weeks gestation. The pathology report revealed a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of 3.5 cm, and all 33 lymph nodes were free of disease. Neonatal examination of the baby could not reveal any abnormalities, and this was confirmed at 6 months. The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy enabled us to continue this pregnancy until the fetus was viable. Cisplatin did not influence the short-term outcome, but only a long-term follow-up will inform us on its safety during pregnancy.

Malignant Adnexal Masses in Pregnancy

Ovarian tumors during pregnancy are very rare; however, a cancer diagnosis causes distress to the couple. Reassurance is paramount, and the first consideration should be given to the safety of the mother. If both mother and fetus can be preserved, treatment to minimize the risks to both should be planned accordingly. It is imperative to care for the patient with a multidisciplinary team that includes a high-risk obstetrician, a gynecologic oncologist, and a medical oncologist specialized in gynecologic cancers.

Cervical neoplasia during pregnancy: Diagnosis, management and prognosis

Pregnancy represents an exceptional opportunity for the early diagnosis of cervical cancer since visual inspection, cytological examination and bimanual palpation are considered to be part of routine antenatal care. An abnormal cervical smear should generally be managed as in the non-pregnant state. However, colposcopy and biopsies are mainly intended to exclude invasive disease because a conservative approach is preferred in cases of pre-invasive disease. The only absolute indication for conization in pregnancy is to rule out (micro-)invasive disease or make the diagnosis of invasive carcinoma when such a diagnosis will alter the timing or mode of delivery. Overall, earlier stages of cervical cancer are encountered during pregnancy compared with the general population. Although stage of disease and gestational age will largely influence the timing of the interventions, treatment of invasive cervical cancer is similar to the non-pregnant state. In strongly desired pregnancies, the use of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in order to obtain fetal maturity should be considered and discussed with the patient. Although good evidence supports short-term safety, long-term data regarding the in-utero exposure of cytotoxic drugs need to be consolidated. After stratifying for stage, the outcome is similar to the non-pregnant state.

Management of an advanced ovarian cancer at 15 weeks of gestation: Case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

To report a case of advanced ovarian carcinoma diagnosed during gestation, which was managed with conservative surgery and chemotherapy until delivery.

CASE

The patient underwent bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, and appendectomy at 15 weeks of gestation. Six courses of chemotherapy with cisplatin were administered. Cesarean section followed by total hysterectomy were performed at 36 weeks of gestation. The male infant was 3000 g, Apgar score 9/9. Twenty-four months after delivery, the patient experienced pelvic recurrence and underwent surgery and six cycles of carboplatin and paclitaxel. The patient is alive with no evidence of disease. After 42 months of follow-up, the baby boy showed no evidence of sequelae.

CONCLUSION

Medical and surgical management of ovarian cancer during pregnancy can be an option, although the risks and benefits have to be discussed with caution.

Intérêt de l'IRM associée à l'échographie pour la caractérisation des masses annexielles persistantes au cours de la grossesse : à propos de neuf cas

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the accuracy of MR imaging combined with sonography for the diagnosis of persistent adnexal masses during pregnancy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From January 1999 to November 2003, nine patients with a persistent adnexal masse were included in this retrospective study. All patients underwent both transvaginal and transabdominal sonography combined with MR imaging. Accuracy of imaging techniques was evaluated by comparison with histology.

RESULTS

Adnexal masse was detected by systematic sonography in six women whereas three patients were symptomatic. Mean gestational age at the diagnosis was 17 weeks of amenorrhea (range 5-36). Mean tumor size was 96 mm (range 2-15). Two patients underwent a surgery during pregnancy; one for acute abdominal pain related to an adnexal torsion and the second for suspicion of malignancy. One patient underwent a caesarean delivery for obstetrical reasons. In all patients, benign ovarian tumours were found. For eight patients the diagnosis suspected by imaging techniques was confirmed by histology.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The combination of sonography and MR imaging allows diagnosing accurately adnexal masses during pregnancy.

Preservation of pregnancy in a patient with a stage IIIB ovarian epithelial carcinoma diagnosed at 22 weeks of gestation and treated with initial chemotherapy: case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

To report a case of successful management of a FIGO stage III endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary diagnosed during pregnancy at 22 weeks of gestation and treated with initial chemotherapy while preserving the pregnancy.

CASE

The patient underwent a planned cesarean section at 34 weeks after two courses of carboplatin. She delivered a healthy baby. At the same time, a radical hysterectomy, omentectomy, pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomies and peritonectomies were carried out. The surgical resection was complete (no macroscopic residual disease). During histologic examination, traces of persistent disease were found. The patient underwent seven postoperative courses of chemotherapy (carboplatin + paclitaxel regimen) after radical surgery. After 18 months of follow-up posttreatment, the patient remains in complete remission and the child's development is normal.

CONCLUSION

Chemotherapy during pregnancy with preservation of the fetus could be considered and should be discussed in case of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) diagnosed during the second trimester of the pregnancy.

Gynaecological malignancies in pregnancy: a review

Gynaecological malignancies frequently occur in women of reproductive age and are estimated to complicate approximately one in 1000 pregnancies. The incidence of gynaecological malignancies during pregnancy is expected to rise as more women delay childbearing into their later reproductive years, and maternal age is the most powerful predictor of cancer risk. Pregnancy-associated malignancies present significant challenges as a result of the conflict between optimal maternal therapy and fetal well-being. The lack of prospective randomised treatment studies has prevented the development of clinical guidelines for most of the issues complicating the management. In the present review, recent diagnostic and treatment strategies for cervical, ovarian, vulvar and endometrial carcinomas during pregnancy are presented.