A computer synoptic operative report versus a report dictated by a surgeon in advanced ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the role of a computer synoptic operative report in enhancing the quality and completeness of surgical reporting for advanced ovarian cancer surgeries.

METHODS

The study was conducted at a tertiary cancer center between January 2016 and September 2021, and the computer synoptic operative report was implemented in May 2019. The study compared two cohorts: the first consisted of the 'before computer synoptic operative report (P1)' period, during which the operative reports were dictated freely by the surgeons, and the second consisted of the 'after computer synoptic operative report (P2)' period, during which all surgeons used the computer synoptic operative report.

RESULTS

The study analyzed 227 operative reports, with 104 during period 1 (P1) and 123 during period 2 (P2). In the P1 group, more than half of the patients (54 out of 104, 52%) underwent interval surgery after completing six cycles of chemotherapy; In contrast, in the P2 group, all interval debulking surgeries were performed after fewer than six chemotherapy cycles (p<0.001). Although interval debulking surgery after fewer than six chemotherapy cycles was more frequent in P2, the rate of primary debulking surgery was similar between the groups. The median intra-operative peritoneal carcinomatosis index was higher in P2 (2 in P1 vs 4 in P2, p<0.001), and mean blood loss was higher in P1 (308 mL vs 151 mL, p<0.001). The rate of complete cytoreduction was similar between P1 and P2 (97% vs 87%, respectively, p=0.6). The median length of hospital stay was 12 days in the P1 group and 16 days in the P2 group (p=0.5). Compliance with all eight significant items was higher in the P2 group, with all items present in 66% of the operative reports in the P2 group compared with none of the reports in the P1 group. Compliance for the following items was: International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology stage (24% vs 100%), histology (76% vs 97%), CA125 (63% vs 89%), type of surgery (38% vs 100%), peritoneal carcinomatosis index (21% vs 100%), complete cytoreduction score 36% vs 99%), Aletti score (0% vs 89%), and blood loss (32% vs 98%) for P1 and P2; respectively.

CONCLUSION

The use of the computer synoptic operative report improved the completeness and quality of the surgical information documented in advanced ovarian cancer surgeries.

Peritoneal metastases from rare ovarian cancer treated with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC)

Objectives

There are limited treatment options and no consensus on the management of advanced rare ovarian malignancies. Rare ovarian malignancies can present with peritoneal metastases (PM), featuring a similar presentation to more common ovarian subtypes. Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) is an effective treatment for PM of non-gynecologic origin and, recently, epithelial ovarian cancer. We evaluated the feasibility of CRS/HIPEC in the management of PM from rare ovarian malignancies and report postoperative outcomes on these patients.

Methods

A retrospective review of a single center, prospective database (1994-2021) was performed to identify patients with rare ovarian malignancies treated with CRS/HIPEC. Clavien-Dindo 90-day morbidity/mortality and Kaplan-Meier overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed.

Results

Of 44 patients identified, 28 underwent CRS/HIPEC. Six were aborted due to extensive disease. Histologic subtypes included: clear cell (5/28, 17.9 %), endometrioid (5/28, 17.9 %), granulosa cell (3/28, 10.7 %), low-grade serous (6/28, 21.4 %), mesonephric (1/28, 3.6 %), mucinous (6/28, 21.4 %), and small cell (2/28, 7.1 %) carcinomas. Eight (28.6 %) patients had primary and 20 (71.4 %) had recurrent disease. Median peritoneal cancer index (PCI) was 21 (IQR: 6-29). Complete cytoreduction (<2.5 mm residual disease) was achieved in 27/28 (96.4 %). Grade III/IV complications occurred in 9/28 (32.1 %) with one (3.6 %) mortality. After a median follow-up of 65.8 months, 20 patients were alive. Five-year OS and PFS were 68.5 and 52.6 %, respectively.

Conclusions

In patients with PM from rare ovarian malignancies, CRS/HIPEC is feasible and has an acceptable safety profile. Longer follow-up and multicenter trials are needed.

Surgical Treatment and Outcome of Ovarian Cancer Patients With Liver Metastases: Experience of a Tertiary Hepatic and Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Center

BACKGROUND/AIM

The aim of this study was to describe and evaluate the patterns, perioperative outcomes, and survival rates of patients subjected to hepatic resections for ovarian-derived liver metastasis as part of cytoreductive surgery with or without hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Furthermore, we investigated two subgroups of tumor patterns: hematogenous liver metastasis and infiltrative liver metastatic spread.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted. Patients from a University Tertiary Hepatic and Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Center with primary or recurrent ovarian cancer, who underwent liver resection as part of cytoreductive surgery between January 1992 and December 2022, were included.

RESULTS

Data from 35 patients were analyzed. Both median overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were 24.97 months. In a multivariate setting, the combined effect of age, peritoneal carcinomatosis index, body mass index, hematogenous liver metastasis vs. infiltrative spread types, and HIPEC (HR=0.2372; 95%CI=0.0719-0.7823; p=0.0181) over OS was tested. Survival analysis revealed no differences between the two metastatic spread types (OS: p=0.9720; DSS: p=0.9610). Younger age (p=0.0301), splenectomy (p=0.0320), lesser omentectomy (p=0.0178), and right upper quadrant peritonectomy (p=0.0373) were more characteristic for those patients with infiltrative liver metastatic spread.

CONCLUSION

Complete cytoreductive surgery, including hepatic resection is a feasible approach with or without additional HIPEC, which may provide survival benefit for patients with advanced and/or recurrent ovarian cancer. If metastatic and infiltrative liver involvement is suspected, liver-specific imaging is recommended.

Low-grade versus high-grade serous ovarian cancer: comparison of surgical outcomes after secondary cytoreductive surgery

OBJECTIVE

Retrospective series have shown secondary cytoreductive surgery improves oncological outcomes in recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer. We aim to compare surgical procedures and complications between patients with low-grade and high-grade recurrent serous ovarian cancer.

METHODS

This retrospective single-institution study includes patients with recurrent low-grade and high-grade serous ovarian cancer undergoing surgery between January 2012 to December 2021. Patients were propensity matched 1:3 for residual tumor at first surgery, presence of ascites and performance status. Complexity of surgery and postoperative complications were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 116 patients undergoing secondary cytoreductive surgery were included with 29 patients (25%) having low-grade ovarian cancer. The median age of the patients was 54 years (range: 19-85) and 57 years (range: 29-78) in low-grade and high-grade ovarian cancer, respectively (p=0.13). Stages III/IV at diagnosis were more frequent in patients with high-grade ovarian cancers (p<0.001). Peritoneal involvement was higher in low-grade compared with high-grade ovarian cancer as shown by the higher rate of diaphragmatic (41.4% vs 21.8%, p=0.05), abdominal wall (41.4% vs 18.4%, p=0.02) and pelvic (51.7% vs 21.8%, p=0.01) peritonectomy. Multiple bowel resections were higher in low-grade ovarian cancer (24.1% vs 8.0%, p=0.04), while high-grade ovarian cancer had a higher rate of nodal recurrences (73.2%% vs 37.9%, p=0.03). Overall, surgical complexity was higher in low-grade ovarian cancer (58.6% vs 36.8%; p=0.05), with higher median estimated blood loss (400 vs 200 mL; p=0.01) compared with high-grade. Complete cytoreduction was achieved in 26 patients (89.7%) with low-grade and 84 (96.6%) with high-grade (p=0.16) ovarian cancer, with no significant differences in postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Secondary cytoreductive surgery in low-grade serous ovarian cancer patients was associated with higher complexity, multiple bowel resections, and higher median estimated blood loss than in high-grade serous ovarian cancer. The comparable rate of postoperative complications suggests that secondary cytoreductive surgery in this group of patients is feasible in expert centers.

A 51-Year-Old Woman with Advanced Peritoneal Mesothelioma and Stage 3b Chronic Kidney Disease Treated with Cytoreductive Surgery and Bidirectional Intraperitoneal Cisplatin and Ifosfamide Chemotherapy: A Case Report

BACKGROUND Malignant mesotheliomas are rare, yet highly malignant tumors. Mesotheliomas are tumors that develop from mesothelial surfaces, with the pleura being the most common, followed by the peritoneum. The diagnosis of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is usually established when the disease is advanced, owing to the nonspecific clinical appearance and abdominal symptoms. Initially, MPM was treated with palliative systemic chemotherapy, with or without palliative surgery. However, cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with bidirectional intraoperative chemotherapy (BDIC) has recently emerged as a treatment option for MPM. BDIC creates a bidirectional chemotherapy gradient in the peritoneal tumor cells through the simultaneous use of intraperitoneal and intravenous chemotherapy. CRS, combined with BDIC (CRS-BDIC), allows the complete elimination of residual tiny tumor cells after complete removal of the visible tumor nodules. CASE REPORT Herein, we present a case of a 51-year-old woman with MPM and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3b. Her treatment consisted of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy, followed by CRS-BDIC using intraperitoneal cisplatin and doxorubicin, and intravenous ifosfamide. The surgery was successful, with no immediate complications or decline in the patient's kidney function. On follow up 2 months later, the patient denies suffering any chemotherapy-related adverse effects, and her kidney profile remains stable. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, nephrotoxicity, a known adverse effect of cisplatin and ifosfamide, might not be a contraindication for the use of these potentially nephrotoxic drugs in CRS-BDIC in patients with renal impairment.

Pulmonary metastasectomy for recurrent metastatic ovarian cancer

AIM

The prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer with lung metastasis is poor; data on pulmonary metastasectomy for such patients are lacking. This study aimed to determine the safety and feasibility of pulmonary resection as part of cytoreductive surgery for recurrent metastatic ovarian cancer.

METHODS

Medical records of patients with ovarian cancer, who underwent pulmonary resection for lung metastasis in our hospital from April 2012 to February 2022, were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Ten patients were included (median age, 53 years). Five patients had metastatic disease limited to the lungs. Additional surgeries included diaphragm resection, partial hepatectomy, para-aortic lymph node dissection, and cytoreduction. We achieved complete cytoreduction for all patients without severe complications, and the 30-day mortality was zero. After a median follow-up of 23 months, four of the patients experienced recurrence. One patient recurred 9 months after the operation and was lost to follow-up at 17 months, two died at 68 and 26 months respectively, one is alive with disease (23 months), and six are alive without recurrence, among whom two have survived for 56 and 124 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Pulmonary resection for recurrent metastatic ovarian cancer seems safe and feasible, with long-term survival observed in certain patients. Pulmonary metastasectomy can be performed as part of the debulking surgery for selected patients with relapsed metastatic ovarian cancer. Both the patient lost to follow-up and the one who died at 26 months, had two lung metastatic nodules and did not receive postoperative chemotherapy, which might have led to relatively poor prognosis.

The peritoneal cancer index as a predictor of complete cytoreduction at primary and interval cytoreductive surgery in advanced ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

The peritoneal cancer index quantitatively assesses cancer distribution and tumor burden in the peritoneal cavity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between the peritoneal cancer index and completeness of surgical cytoreduction for ovarian cancer and to identify a cut-off above which complete cytoreduction is unlikely.

METHODS

This is a single-center prospective cohort observational study. A total of 100 consecutive patients who underwent ovarian cancer surgery were included. Peritoneal cancer index scores prior to and after surgery were calculated, and a cut-off value for incomplete cytoreduction was identified using a receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. Surgical complexity, blood loss, length of surgery, and complications were analyzed and associations with the peritoneal cancer index score were evaluated.

RESULTS

The overall median peritoneal cancer index score was 9.5 (range 0-36). The median age of the patients was 61 years (range 24-85). The most common stage was III (13% stage II, 53% stage III, 34% stage IV) and the most common histologic sub-type was high-grade serous (76% high-grade serous, 8% low-grade serous, 5% clear cell, 4% serous borderline, 2% endometrioid, 2% adult granulosa cell, 2% adenocarcinoma, 1% carcinosarcoma). Complete cytoreduction was achieved in 82% of patients, with a median score of 9 (range 0-30). The remaining 18% had a median score of 28.5 (range 0-36). The best predictor of incomplete cytoreduction was the peritoneal cancer index score, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.928 (95% CI 0.85 to 1.00). ROC curve analysis determined a peritoneal cancer index cut-off score of 20. Major complications occurred in 15% of patients with peritoneal cancer index scores >20 and in 2.5% of patients with scores ≤20, which was statistically significant (p=0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study we found that a peritoneal cancer index score of ≤20 was associated with a high likelihood of complete cytoreduction. Incorporating the peritoneal cancer index into routine surgical practice and research may impact treatment plans.

Centralizing surgery for ovarian cancer in a 'non-centralizing' country (Belgium): the UNGO (UCLouvain Network of Gynaecological Oncology) experience

OBJECTIVE

In Belgium there is no centralization of surgery for ovarian cancer, with more than 100 centers treating around 800 cases per year. In 2017 a network with several collaborating hospitals was established to centralize surgery for ovarian cancer (UCLouvain Network of Gynecological Oncology; UNGO) following publication of the European Society of Gynecological Oncology (ESGO) recommendations and quality criteria for surgery of advanced ovarian cancer. We obtained ESGO accreditation in 2019.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected data associated with patients undergoing surgery in our institution from 2007 to 2016, before the creation of the network (cohort 1) and, following the establishment of UNGO (2017-2021), patients undergoing surgery were prospectively registered in a REDCap database (cohort 2). The outcomes of the two cohorts were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 314 patients underwent surgery in our institution from 2007 and 2021: 7.5 patients/year in cohort 1 (retrospective, 2007-2016) and 40.8 patients/year in cohort 2 (after network creation, 2017-2021). Median disease-free survival was increased from 16.5 months (range 13.2-20.4) in cohort 1 to 27.1 months (range 21.5-33.2) in cohort 2 (p=0.0004). In cohort 2, the rate of patients with residual disease at the end of the surgery was significantly less (18.7% vs 8.8%, p=0.023), although more patients in cohort 1 received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (89% vs 54%, p<0.001). However, there was a higher rate of complications in the patients in cohort 2 (18.8% vs 30%, p=0.041).

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that, with the help of ESGO and its recommendations, we have been able to create an efficient advanced ovarian cancer centralized network and this may provide an improvement in the quality of care.

Exploring international differences in ovarian cancer care: a survey report on global patterns of care, current practices, and barriers

OBJECTIVE

Although global disparities in survival rates for patients with ovarian cancer have been described, variation in care has not been assessed globally. This study aimed to evaluate global ovarian cancer care and barriers to care.

METHODS

A survey was developed by international ovarian cancer specialists and was distributed through networks and organizational partners of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, and the European Society of Gynecological Oncology. Respondents received questions about care organization. Outcomes were stratified by World Bank Income category and analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regressions.

RESULTS

A total of 1059 responses were received from 115 countries. Respondents were gynecological cancer surgeons (83%, n=887), obstetricians/gynecologists (8%, n=80), and other specialists (9%, n=92). Income category breakdown was as follows: high-income countries (46%), upper-middle-income countries (29%), and lower-middle/low-income countries (25%). Variation in care organization was observed across income categories. Respondents from lower-middle/low-income countries reported significantly less frequently that extensive resections were routinely performed during cytoreductive surgery. Furthermore, these countries had significantly fewer regional networks, cancer registries, quality registries, and patient advocacy groups. However, there is also scope for improvement in these components in upper-middle/high-income countries. The main barriers to optimal care for the entire group were patient co-morbidities, advanced presentation, and social factors (travel distance, support systems). High-income respondents stated that the main barriers were lack of surgical time/staff and patient preferences. Middle/low-income respondents additionally experienced treatment costs and lack of access to radiology/pathology/genetic services as main barriers. Lack of access to systemic agents was reported by one-third of lower-middle/low-income respondents.

CONCLUSIONS

The current survey report highlights global disparities in the organization of ovarian cancer care. The main barriers to optimal care are experienced across all income categories, while additional barriers are specific to income levels. Taking action is crucial to improve global care and strive towards diminishing survival disparities and closing the care gap.

Major determinants of survival in recurrent endometrial cancer-the role of secondary cytoreductive surgery: a multicenter study

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of the study was to assess the influence of different clinical and therapeutic variables on the oncological outcomes of patients with endometrial cancer relapse. In particular, we evaluated the impact of cytoreductive surgery with the achievement of complete gross resection.

METHODS

This is a multicenter retrospective cohort study conducted in three centers in Italy and including all patients with first relapse of endometrial cancer from January 2010 to December 2021.

RESULTS

Data from 331 women with recurrent endometrial cancer were analyzed. Secondary cytoreductive surgery was performed in 56.2% of cases (186 patients). Complete gross resection was achieved in 178 patients (95.7%). Complete gross resection conferred a statistically significant survival benefit both for post-relapse survival and post-relapse free survival (3 years post-relapse survival: 75.4% vs 56.4%, p<0.001; 3 years post-relapse free survival: 32.6% vs 26.5%, p=0.027). At multivariate Cox regression analysis, age ≥75 years, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status ≥2, the advanced-metastatic risk group, complete gross resection, and multiple site relapses were identified as independent significant predictors for post-relapse survival; regarding post-relapse free survival, only age ≥75, the high and advanced-metastatic risk groups, and complete gross resection confirmed their statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Secondary cytoreductive surgery with achievement of complete gross resection was confirmed to be an independent positive predictor for survival in patients with recurrent endometrial cancer and should be considered a valid primary treatment in the therapeutic decision-making process.

Change of Fagotti score is associated with outcome after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether a change in the Fagotti score (ΔFagotti) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy is predictive of resection to no residual disease (R0) and survival in women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

METHODS

Women treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for newly diagnosed ovarian cancer between January 2012 and June 2021 at the Bern University Hospital were included in this retrospective cohort study. Fagotti scores before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment were assessed for a potential association with resection status at interval debulking surgery defined as no residual disease (R0), macroscopic residual disease with a diameter of 0.1-1 cm (R1) or >1 cm (R2), and survival.

RESULTS

During the study period, 130 patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, mainly in response to advanced ovarian cancer International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages IIIC (68.5%) or IV (20.8%). 91 patients (70%) experienced a relapse and 81 (62%) died due to their disease. Median overall survival was 40 months (95% CI 30.6 to 49.4). Fagotti scores dropped from a mean of 7.8 (95% CI 7.14 to 8.42) at diagnosis to 3.9 (95% CI 3.34 to 4.46, p<0.001) after neoadjuvant therapy. This decrease was associated with resection status during interval debulking surgery (mean ΔFagotti -4.9 in R0, -2.2 in R1, -0.6 in R2, p<0.001). Women whose Fagotti score declined more than 2 points after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n=51/88, 58%) survived significantly longer (median overall survival of 42 vs 32 months, p=0.048).

CONCLUSION

Fagotti scores and ΔFagotti scores are associated with complete cytoreduction at interval debulking surgery and longer overall survival in women treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. These markers are valuable for individualized patient treatment planning and should always be performed after neoadjuvant therapy.

The Impact of Metastasis Histopathology on Oncologic Outcomes for Patients With Surgically Resected Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

PURPOSE

Multiple prognostic models exist to assess survival among patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma. However, the relative contribution of histopathological features of the metastasis has not been extensively studied. Herein, we compared models using clinical, primary tumor, and metastatic features to predict cancer-specific survival for patients with surgically resected metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied 266 patients who had undergone nephrectomy between 1970 and 2019, and who had a single site of metastasis completely resected. Two versions of the metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma score published by Leibovich et al were calculated, using grade and necrosis from the primary tumor and using grade and necrosis from the metastasis. Predictive abilities of these 2 versions and a third model that included metastatic features only were compared using c-indexes from Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

A total of 197 patients died from renal cell carcinoma at a median of 2.3 years (IQR 1.1-4.5); median follow-up among survivors was 13.2 years (IQR 10.0-14.5). The Leibovich score using grade and necrosis from the metastasis (c=0.679) had similar predictive ability compared to the original Leibovich score using grade and necrosis from the primary tumor (c=0.675). A third model (c=0.707) demonstrated that metastasectomy within 2 years after nephrectomy, presence of bone metastasis, high grade, and sarcomatoid differentiation in the metastasis were significantly associated with cancer-specific survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Scoring algorithms calculated using histopathological features of the metastasis can be used to predict cancer-specific survival for patients with surgically resected metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma. These findings are of particular importance for instances when primary tumor histopathology is not readily available.

Secondary cytoreduction in platinum sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer: an individual patient level meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize the role of secondary cytoreduction in recurrent ovarian cancer from the results of randomized studies.

METHODS

We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials which compared secondary cytoreductive surgery versus no surgery in patients with platinum sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer. Individual patient data for overall survival and progression free survival were manually extracted from published survival curves, for whole study populations and subgroups based on completeness of surgical resection and bevacizumab use, using WebPlotDigitizer software. Overall survival and progression free survival curves for each study and the combined population were reconstructed from extracted data.

RESULTS

Three studies with 1249 patients were included, of whom complete resection was achieved in 427 (34.2%) patients. In individual patient data analysis of the whole study population with 562 deaths, there was no significant difference in overall survival between the surgery and no surgery groups (median 52.8 vs 52.1 months, respectively, hazard ratio (HR) 0.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80 to 1.11; p=0.5) but the surgery group had significantly longer progression free survival compared with the no surgery group (median 18.3 vs 14.4 months, respectively, HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.80; p<0.001). In subgroup analyses, overall survival was significantly longer in the complete cytoreduction subgroup compared with the no surgery group (median 62.0 vs 52.1 months, respectively, HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.92; p<0.001) while overall survival was significantly worse in the incomplete cytoreduction subgroup compared with the no surgery group (median 34.2 vs 52.1 months, respectively, HR 1.72, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.14; p<0.001). In the no bevacizumab subgroup, there was no significant overall survival difference between the surgery and no surgery groups (median 49.3 vs 47.0 months, HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.10; p=0.25).

CONCLUSIONS

Secondary cytoreductive surgery among women with platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer did not lead to significant benefit in overall survival although it increased progression free survival. However, overall survival was significantly longer among patients in whom complete cytoreduction was possible compared with no surgery.

Is the measurement of sarcopenia associated with oncological disease in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy?

BACKGROUND

Peritoneal malignancies are challenging cancers to manage. While cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS and HIPEC), may offer a cure, it is a radical procedure associated with significant morbidity. Pre-emptive identification of deconditioned patients for optimization may mitigate surgical risk. However, the difficulty lies in identifying a cost-effective predictive tool. Recently, there has been interest in sarcopenia, which may occur due to malignancy. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of sarcopenia at predicting post-operative outcomes.

METHODS

A quaternary-centre retrospective study of CRS and HIPEC patients (2017-2020), were conducted to determine the association between pre-operative sarcopenia on oncological (peritoneal carcinomatosis index (PCI)) and surgical outcomes (complications). Sarcopenia from lumbar CT-images were measured using Slice-o-matic™. Statistical differences were analysed using Mann-Whitney U and Chi-squared test.

RESULTS

Cohort analysis (n = 94) found 40% had sarcopenia, majority were female (53.2%), and average age of 55 years. The major pathologies was colorectal cancer (n = 39, 41.5%), appendix adenocarcinoma (n = 21, 22.3%), and pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) (n = 19, 20.2%). Sarcopenia was associated with decreased weight, 72.7 versus 82.2 kg (P = 0.014) and shorter survival, 1.4 versus 2.1 years (95% CI, 1.09-3.05, P = 0.032). Median PCI (excluding PMP) was 11 (6-18) and median PCI (only PMP) was 25 (11-32). Post-operatively, sarcopenia patients experienced more complications (72.5% vs. 64.8%, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Pre-emptive identification of sarcopenia may be a useful prognostic indicator and predictor of post-operative outcomes in CRS and HIPEC. For oncological patients, sarcopenia may be an indicator of patients requiring targeted pre-operative rehabilitation, or advanced disease requiring further treatment.

Comparison of coagulation parameters associated with fibrinogen concentrate and cryoprecipitate for treatment of bleeding in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery for pseudomyxoma peritonei: Subanalysis from a randomized, controlled phase 2 study

Background and Aims

The FORMA-05 study compared the efficacy and safety of human fibrinogen concentrate (HFC) versus cryoprecipitate for hemostasis in bleeding patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery for pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). This subanalysis explores coagulation parameters in the FORMA-05 patients, with a focus on the seven patients who developed thromboembolic events (TEEs).

Methods

FORMA-05 was a prospective, randomized, controlled phase 2 study in which patients with predicted blood loss ≥2 L received HFC (4 g) or cryoprecipitate (two pools of five units), repeated as needed. Plasma fibrinogen, platelet count, factor (F) XIII, FVIII, von Willebrand Factor (VWF) antigen and ristocetin cofactor activity levels, EXTEM A20, FIBTEM A20, and endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) were measured perioperatively.

Results

Fibrinogen, platelet count, EXTEM and FIBTEM A20, FXIII, FVIII, VWF levels, and ETP were maintained throughout surgery in both the HFC group (N = 21) and the cryoprecipitate group (N = 23). Seven TEEs were observed in the cryoprecipitate group. The two patients developing deep vein thromboses (DVT) appeared to have a procoagulant status preoperatively, with distinctively higher fibrinogen level, FIBTEM A20, and platelet levels, all of which persisted perioperatively. The five patients developing pulmonary embolism (PE) had slightly higher VWF levels preoperatively, with a disproportionate increase intraoperatively (postcryoprecipitate administration) and postoperatively.

Conclusions

Patients treated with HFC versus cryoprecipitate showed broad overlaps in coagulation parameters. Patients with PE experienced a disproportionate VWF rise following cryoprecipitate administration, whereas patients developing DVT displayed a procoagulant status before and following surgery. Preoperative testing may allow these patients to be identified.

Chemotherapy response in low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma at a comprehensive cancer center: Readdressing the roles of platinum and cytotoxic therapies

BACKGROUND

Data on platinum sensitivity of low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (LGSOC) in the upfront setting is lacking, and there is limited and contradictory information on chemotherapy responses in recurrent disease.

METHODS

Patients with LGSOC seen at a comprehensive cancer center from January 1, 1998 to September 30, 2021 were identified from institutional databases. Response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) or adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy and to second- to fifth-line regimens was retrospectively characterized by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1. Wilcoxon rank-sum and two-tailed Fisher exact tests were employed.

RESULTS

Of 50 patients, 12 received platinum doublets for suboptimal residual disease and 11 as NACT. Of 12 patients with suboptimal residual disease, seven (58%) achieved objective responses (five partial responses [PRs] and two complete responses); of the 11 patients who underwent NACT, one (9%) achieved a PR (p = .027). The 15 remaining patients had stable disease on first-line platinum chemotherapy. Of 44 patients who recurred, 20 had RECIST-evaluable responses to second-line and 27 to third-line chemotherapy. Objective response rates to platinum-based chemotherapy were 22% (two of nine) in the second line and 10% (one of 10) in the third. In second and third lines, highest response rates were observed with nonplatinum chemotherapy with bevacizumab, at 100% (two of two) and 30% (three of 10), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary platinum-based chemotherapy has moderate activity in LGSOC and minimal activity in the recurrent setting, suggesting standard definitions of platinum sensitivity may not apply in LGSOC. In the second and third lines, nonplatinum chemotherapy/bevacizumab elicited the highest response rates.

Assessing morbidity, mortality, and survival in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis undergoing cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE

Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) indicates advanced stage cancer, which is generally associated with a poor outcome and a 6 to 12 months. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is an option for treating patients with primary PC, such as mesothelioma, or secondary PC, such as colorectal cancer (CRC) or pseudomixoma. Until recently, such patients were deemed untreatable. The purpose of this study was to assess the results of CRS + HIPEC in patients with PC. Postoperative complications, mortality and survival rates were evaluated according to the diagnosis.

RESULTS

Fifty-six patients with PC, undergoing full CRS + HIPEC between October 2004 and January 2020, were enrolled. The mortality rate was 3.8% and the morbidity rate was 61.5%. Complications were significantly higher in proportion to the duration of surgery (p<0.001). The overall survival rates, as shown in the Kaplan-Meyer curve, were respectively 81%, 74% and 53% at 12, 24 and 60 months. Survival rates according to each diagnosis for the same periods were 87%, 82% and 47% in patients with pseudomixoma, and 77%, 72% and 57% in patients with CRC (log-rank 0.371, p=0.543).

CONCLUSION

CRS with HIPEC is an option for pacients with primary or secondary PC. Although complication rates are high, a longer survival rate may be attained compared to those seen in previously published results; in some cases, patients may even be cured.

Splenectomy in epithelial ovarian cancer surgery

OBJECTIVE

Splenectomy is performed in 4-32% of cytoreductive surgeries for ovarian cancer. The objective of our study was to assess splenectomy and evaluate its impact on overall and disease-free survival.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective single-center study between January 2000 and December 2016. Patients who underwent a cytoreduction for epithelial ovarian cancer, regardless of stage and surgical approach, were eligible for the study. Patients deemed not operable were excluded from the study. Patients were stratified into two groups, splenectomy or no splenectomy. A univariate analysis followed by a multivariate analysis was conducted to evaluate the postoperative complications after splenectomy and the overall and disease-free survival.

RESULTS

This cohort included 464 patients. Disease stages, peritoneal carcinomatosis scores, and the rate of radical surgery (Pomel classification) were significantly higher in the splenectomy group, p=0.04, p<0.0001, and p<0.001, respectively. However, no significant difference was found in the rate of complete cytoreduction between the two groups (p=0.26) after multivariate analysis. In univariate analysis, splenectomy was significantly associated with extensive surgical procedures. In multivariate analysis, the two more prevalent complications in the splenectomy group were the risk of abdominopelvic lymphocele (overall response (OR) =4.2; p=0.01) and blood transfusion (OR=2.4; p=0.008). The average length of hospital stay was significantly longer in the splenectomy group, 17.4 vs 14.6 days (p<0.0001). The delay in adjuvant chemotherapy was longer in the splenectomy group (p=0.001). There was no significant difference in overall and disease-free survival (p=0.09) and (p=0.79), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Splenectomy may be considered an acceptable and safe procedure; however, with no impact on overall or disease-free survival. In addition, it is associated with longer hospital stay and longer time to chemotherapy.

Oncological impact of intraperitoneal chemotherapy after cytoreductive surgery for patients with colorectal peritoneal metastasis: A bi-institutional retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

There is a paucity of evidence on the value of intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC) following cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for colorectal peritoneal metastasis. This study aimed to evaluate the association between mitomycin C-IPC and survival outcomes following CRS.

METHODS

The institutional databases of two tertiary hospitals were reviewed to identify patients who underwent CRS for colorectal peritoneal metastasis. The outcomes of patients who underwent CRS without IPC were compared with those of patients who underwent CRS plus early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC) or CRS plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). The primary endpoints were cancer-specific survival (CSS), progression-free survival (PFS), and peritoneal PFS (P-PFS).

RESULTS

In 149 patients with peritoneal metastasis alone, EPIC and HIPEC use was significantly associated with better CSS, PFS, and P-PFS in the multivariate analysis. CSS was also significantly associated with perioperative systemic chemotherapy. Among 42 patients with both peritoneal and extraperitoneal metastases, CSS was independently related to the completeness of cytoreduction score, location of extraperitoneal metastasis, and grade 3-4 complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Mitomycin C-IPC after CRS was associated with better survival outcomes than CRS alone in patients with resectable peritoneal metastasis of colorectal cancer. This study found that IPC had beneficial effects regarding P-PFS in patients with both peritoneal and extraperitoneal metastases.

Can fluorescence-guided surgery improve optimal surgical treatment for ovarian cancer? A systematic scoping review of clinical studies

BACKGROUND

The predicament of achieving optimal surgical intervention faced by surgeons in treating ovarian cancer has driven research into improving intra-operative detection of cancer using fluorescent materials.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a literature overview on the clinical use of intra-operative fluorescence-guided surgery for ovarian cancer, either for cytoreductive surgery or sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy.

METHODS

The systematic review included studies from June 2002 until October 2021 from PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus as well as those from a search of related literature. Studies were included if they investigated the use of fluorescence-guided surgery in patients with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Authors charted variables related to study characteristics, patient demographics, baseline clinical characteristics, fluorescence-guided surgery material, and treatment details, and surgical, oncological, and survival outcome variables. After screening 2817 potential studies, 24 studies were included.

RESULTS

Studies investigating the role of fluorescence-guided surgery to visualize tumor deposits or SLN biopsy included the data of 410 and 118 patients, respectively. Six studies used indocyanine green tracer with a mean SLN detection rate of 92.3% with a pelvic and para-aortic detection rate of 94.8% and 96.7%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value for micrometastases detection of OTL38 and 5-aminolevulinc acid at time of cytoreduction were 92.2% vs 79.8%, 67.3% vs 94.8%, and 55.8% vs 95.8%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Fluorescence -guided surgery is a technique that may improve the detection rate of micrometastases and SLN identification in ovarian cancer. Further research is needed to establish whether this will lead to improved patient outcomes.

Validation of a risk-based algorithm to reduce poor operative outcomes after complex surgery for ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

We developed an algorithm that identifies patients at high risk of morbidity/mortality after cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer. We have previously shown that the Mayo triage algorithm reduces operative mortality internally, followed by validation using an external low complexity national dataset. However, validation in a higher complexity surgical setting is required before widespread acceptance of this approach, and this was the goal of our study.

METHODS

We included patients who underwent debulking surgery (including primary or interval debulking surgery) for stage IIIC/IV ovarian cancer between October 2011 and November 2019 (SCORPION trial patients until May 2016 and non-trial patients thereafter) at Fondazione Policlinico A Gemelli, Italy. Using the algorithm, we classified patients as either high-risk or triage-appropriate and compared 30-day grade 3+ complications and 90-day mortality using a χ2 test or Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

A total of 625 patients were included. The mean age was 58.7±11.4 years, 73.6% (n=460) were stage IIIC, and 63.0% (n=394) underwent primary debulking surgery. Surgical complexity was intermediate or high in 82.6% (n=516) of patients (95.7% (n=377) for primary surgery and 60.2% (n=139) for interval surgery), and 20.3% (n=127) were classified as high-risk. When compared with triage-appropriate patients, high-risk patients had (1) a threefold higher rate of 90-day mortality (6.3% vs 2.0%, p=0.02); (2) a higher likelihood of 90-day mortality following a grade 3+ complication (25.9% vs 10.0%, p=0.05); and (3) comparable rates of grade 3+ complications (21.3% vs 16.1%, p=0.17).

CONCLUSION

The evidence-based triage algorithm identifies patients at high risk of morbidity/mortality after cytoreductive surgery. Triage high-risk patients are poor candidates for surgery when complex surgery is required. This algorithm has been validated in heterogeneous settings (internal, national, and international) and degree of surgical complexity. Risk-based decision making should be standard of care when planning surgery for patients with advanced ovarian cancer, whether primary or interval surgery.

Impact of proper surgical treatment on the survival of patients with epithelial ovary cancer

OBJECTIVE

to evaluate the quality of surgical treatment of ovarian cancer patients and assess the impact of adequate surgical oncological treatment on disease-free survival and overall survival of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

METHODS

this is an observational, retrospective study with quantitative analysis, with the collection of data in medical records of a temporal convenience sample of patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer admitted to a High Complexity Oncology Unit, in Belo Horizonte, from the period of 2014 to 2020.

RESULTS

a total of 91 patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer were evaluated, with the epithelial histopathological type being the most frequent (85%). Of this total, 68 patients (74.7%) had advanced-stage ovarian cancer. Appropriate surgical treatment was performed in 30.9% of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer and the type of performed surgery was statistically significant for overall survival. This low proportion of appropriate surgical oncological treatment was not related to surgical specially or surgeon competence, but mainly to advanced disease related to patient flow at UNACON. It was not possible to confirm if the advanced-stage disease was related to tumor biology or losing time from diagnosis to oncological surgery.

CONCLUSION

overall survival of advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer patients is directly influenced by appropriate surgical treatment, however, in this study, the percentage of advanced ovarian cancer receiving adequate surgical treatment was much lower than the rates reported in the literature. To improve these outcomes, we believe that surgeons should keep following patients during neoadjuvant chemotherapy to point to a better time for surgery, and clinical oncologists should better consider adequate oncological surgery as one of the pillars of ovarian cancer treatment and get more involved in facilitating surgeries.

Late Recurrence of Pancreatic Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasm With Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Treated With Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC): A Case Report

Pancreatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) is a rare malignant tumour predominantly affecting young women. The occurrence of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) in this setting is an even rarer condition, usually related to perioperative tumour rupture. We present a case of a 43-year-old woman who previously underwent distal splenopancreatectomy after the diagnosis of a pancreatic SPN. Thirteen years later, the patient underwent a radical hysterectomy due to a uterine myoma. Intraoperatively, a peritoneal mass was additionally found and resected. Histological examination revealed an implant with morphology compatible with pancreatic SPN. The patient was then referred to our institution. Staging MRI and CT revealed multiple nodular lesions adjacent to the left colon, suggestive of peritoneal implants. The patient was then submitted to cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) with oxaliplatin and irinotecan. Histological examination confirmed peritoneal involvement by a pancreatic SPN. The postoperative course was unremarkable. Two years after surgery, the patient remains asymptomatic with no evidence of relapse. Despite SPN being cancer with a relatively indolent evolution, one needs to be aware of a possible recurrence several years after the primary resection, mainly in patients with evidence of intraoperative tumour rupture.

Prognostic significance of sarcomatoid features in metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with cytoreductive nephrectomy and targeted therapy

INTRODUCTION

The presence of sarcomatoid features in localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is associated with worse outcomes. We sought to use a national database to evaluate the outcomes and prognosis of metastatic RCC (mRCC) with sarcomatoid features treated with cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) and targeted therapy (TT).

METHODS

The National Cancer Database (2010-2013) was used to identify patients with mRCC at diagnosis. Only patients who underwent CN followed by TT were included. Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank test, and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to compare overall survival (OS) between mRCC with and without sarcomatoid features. Subgroup analysis in patients with clear cell RCC (ccRCC) was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 1,427 patients with mRCC treated with CN followed by TT were included of which 364 (26%) had mRCC with sarcomatoid features. mRCC with sarcomatoid features were more likely to have Fuhrman grade 4 cancer. mRCC with sarcomatoid features had worse OS than mRCC without sarcomatoid features (24.6 vs 12.0 months, P < 0.001). For the clear cell cohort, mRCC with sarcomatoid features had worse OS than mRCC without sarcomatoid features (26.2 vs 14.0 months, P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression showed sarcomatoid features was significantly associated with worse OS in the overall cohort (hazard ratio [HR] =1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.38-1.91, P < 0.001) and the ccRCC subcohort (HR=1.53, 95% CI=1.23-1.90, P < 0.001).

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

mRCC with sarcomatoid features treated with CN and TT has a very poor and drastically different prognosis compared with mRCC without sarcomatoid features. With the expansion of systemic RCC therapies, investigation is needed to optimize treatment in this high-risk cohort.

Feasibility of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for advanced peritoneal surface tumors during the COVID-19 pandemic: A single-institution experience

Background and objectives

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a complex treatment used in selected patients with peritoneal surface malignancies. HIPEC procedures are time and resource intensive. The primary aim of this analysis was to compare the experience of treating advanced abdominal tumors with CRS‐HIPEC before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic.

Methods

Patients included in this analysis received CRS‐HIPEC at a single center during either a prepandemic (March 18, 2019–March 17, 2020) or pandemic (March 18, 2020–February 5, 2021) interval. A retrospective chart review was performed.

Results

Our analysis included 67 patients: 30 (45%) treated prepandemic and 37 (55%) treated during the pandemic. Median age at the time of operation was 58 years (interquartile range: [49–65]); 53% of patients were women. Patients treated during the pandemic presented with higher peritoneal cancer index (PCI) scores with 32% (n = 12) having a PCI > 20 at the time of surgery (p = 0.01). Five patients had delays in surgery due to the pandemic. Rates of overall postoperative morbidity, reoperation, and readmission were not different between the cohorts.

Conclusions

Despite presenting with more extensive disease, patients treated with CRS‐HIPEC during the height of the COVID‐19 pandemic had comparable perioperative outcomes to patients treated prepandemic.

Management of oligometastatic ovarian cancer recurrence during PARP inhibitor maintenance

OBJECTIVE

The benefit of surgery and maintenance treatment with PARP inhibitors (PARPi) has been clearly demonstrated in ovarian cancer. Also, the efficacy and safety of stereotactic body radiotherapy has been shown in patients with metastatic, persistent, and recurrent disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate the management of oligometastatic progression during PARPi maintenance treatment.

METHODS

This is an observational, retrospective, single-arm study conducted from June 2017 to December 2020 in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer with oligometastatic progression under PARPi maintenance treatment and receiving surgery or stereotactic body radiotherapy for such recurrence. PARPi treatment was continued until further progression of the disease. The primary objective of the study was the median prolongation of the treatment-free interval-p (without platinum) after local treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 186 patients with ovarian cancer were treated with PARPi at recurrence. Of these, 30 (16%) developed oligometastatic progression. The median age was 49.5 years (range 35-73). Olaparib, niraparib and rucaparib were administered to 33%, 60%, and 7% of patients, respectively. The median prolongation of the treatment-free interval-p of patients treated with surgery or stereotactic body radiotherapy was 6 and 10 months, respectively (p=0.53). The median treatment-free interval-p of patients treated with surgery or stereotactic body radiotherapy at the time of oligometastatic progression was 32 and 29 months, respectively (p=0.44). At the time of this publication, 50% of patients are still on treatment with PARPi following progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with recurrent ovarian cancer who have oligometastic progression during PARPi maintenance may continue to benefit from PARPi if combined with local treatment.

Retrospective study of histopathological and prognostic characteristics of primary fallopian tube carcinomas: twenty-year experience (SOCRATE)

OBJECTIVE

Primary fallopian tube carcinoma represents a rare entity, accounting for about 0.75%-1.2% of all gynecological malignancies. The rationale of our study is to describe the prognosis of primary fallopian tube carcinoma.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified patients with FIGO stage I-IV, all histology types and grading primary fallopian tube carcinoma treated in three major oncological centers between January 2000 and March 2020. Exclusion criteria were bulky tubo-ovarian carcinomas, isolated serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma or neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

RESULTS

A total of 61 patients were included. The vast majority of primary fallopian tube carcinomas were serous (96.7%) and poorly differentiated (96.7%) and arose from the fimbriated end of the tube (88.5%). Larger tumor size correlated with higher probability of correct preoperative differential diagnosis of primary fallopian tube carcinoma (p=0.003). Up to 82.4% of patients with small tumors (≤15 mm) presented with high FIGO stage (≥IIA). The most common site of metastasis was pelvic peritoneum (18.8%) and among 59% of patients who underwent lymphadenectomy smaller tumors had higher rate of nodal metastasis (42.9%≤10 mm vs 27.3%>50 mm). After 46.0 months of mean follow-up there were 27 recurrences (48.2%). The most common site of relapse was diffuse peritoneal spread (18.5%). The 5-year disease-free survival was 45.2% and 5-year overall survival was 75.5%. Of note, 42.9% of patients with stage IVB survived >36 months.

CONCLUSION

Primary fallopian tube carcinoma is a biologically distinct tumor from primary epithelial ovarian carcinoma and it is mostly located in the fimbriated end of the tube. In addition, it is characterized by a high rate of retroperitoneal dissemination even at apparently an early stage and its size does not correlate with FIGO stage at presentation.

A multimodal prehabilitation program for the reduction of post-operative complications after surgery in advanced ovarian cancer under an ERAS pathway: a randomized multicenter trial (SOPHIE)

BACKGROUND

Multimodal prehabilitation programs that combine exercise training, nutritional support, and optimize psychological status have demonstrated efficacy in reducing post-operative complications in non-gynecological abdominal surgeries; however, the benefit in advanced ovarian cancer is unclear.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

To compare the post-operative complications of a multimodal prehabilitation program in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer with standard pre-operative care.

STUDY HYPOTHESIS

Multimodal prehabilitation reduces post-operative complications in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer and subsequently reduces the length of hospital stay and time to initiation of adjuvant therapy.

TRIAL DESIGN

This prospective, multi-institutional, randomized clinical trial will randomize candidates for surgery to either the standard of care or multimodal prehabilitation consisting of (1) 2- or 3-weekly supervised high-intensity resistance training sessions and promotion of physical activity through a mobile phone application; (2) respiratory physiotherapy; (3) nutrition counseling with supplementation as needed; and (4) weekly psychological and cognitive behavioral sessions. Baseline, pre-operative and 1 month post-operative data will be collected. An independent blinded evaluator will collect intra- and post-operative surgical data.

MAJOR INCLUSION/EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Women with advanced ovarian cancer International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (2014) stage III or IV scheduled to undergo primary debulking surgery, interval debulking surgery,or secondary or tertiary cytoreductive surgery will be included. Women are eligible if they are able to undergo a minimum of 2 weeks of prehabilitation prior to surgery. Patients with <75% adherence to the total program will be excluded.

PRIMARY ENDPOINT

Post-operative complications in patients with advanced ovarian cancer undergoing cytoreductive surgery according to the Comprehensive Complication Index.

SAMPLE SIZE

146 patients will be included, 73 in each group.

ESTIMATED DATES FOR COMPLETING ACCRUAL AND PRESENTING RESULTS

Accrual should be completed in December 2024 with results reported soon thereafter.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04862325.

Retrospective Analysis of Total Parietal Peritonectomy Without Systematic Lymphadenectomy for Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM

Total parietal peritonectomy (TPP) is a surgical procedure used for complete resection of microscopic peritoneal dissemination. This study analyzed the perioperative complications that developed when omitting systematic lymphadenectomy from TPP.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed perioperative complications in epithelial ovarian cancer patients with stage IIIB-IVB who underwent TPP during primary and interval cytoreductive surgeries between April 2018 and October 2021.

RESULTS

Thirty-three patients were enrolled in the study. The median patient age was 62 years. Of 31 patients (94%) with stage IIIC/IV disease, 24 (73%) had high-grade serous carcinoma. The median operative time and blood loss were 447 min and 2,831 ml, respectively. Complete tumor resection was performed in 30 patients (91%). Only five patients underwent partial lymphadenectomy for clinical metastatic lymph nodes. Further, grade 3 complications were observed in seven (21%) patients, and there were no fatal events in this study. Three patients (9%) had ureteric injuries, which was the most frequent complication in this study. Only one patient developed an intra-abdominal infection due to ascites. In this case, partial para-aortic and pelvic lymphadenectomies were performed.

CONCLUSION

TPP without systematic lymphadenectomy reduces the frequency of perioperative complications associated with ascites.

Cost-effectiveness of Iterative Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis

BACKGROUND

Iterative cytoreduction (iCRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is a treatment for recurrence of peritoneal carcinomatosis. There are considerable upfront costs for this approach for which the cost-effectiveness has not been evaluated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We used a prospectively maintained database of patients having undergone primary and iterative cytoreduction at St. George Hospital between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2017, which was linked with financial data. Cost effectiveness and survival outcomes were used to compare primary cytoreduction (pCRS) and iterative cytoreduction (iCRS) in addition to comparison with other treatment modalities.

RESULTS

The average cost per patient in Australian dollars was $69,295 ($14,691-$696,002) and the average cost per life-year was $15,842. There was no difference in cost-effectiveness between those who had undergone pCRS and those who had undergone iCRS. The overall survival was 52.5 months (95% confidence interval=49.7-55.2 months) with no difference in survival between pCRS and iCRS groups. The median length of hospital stay was significantly longer for patients in the pCRS treatment group (25.51 days) when compared to the iCRS treatment group (21.15 days, p=0.034).

CONCLUSION

iCRS is a cost-effective treatment in the management of recurrent peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Modifiable risk factors associated with long-term survival in women with serous ovarian cancer: a National Cancer Database study

OBJECTIVE

To identify patient, clinical and hospital factors associated with long-term survival (≥10 years) in women with serous ovarian cancer.

METHODS

This National Cancer Database cohort study included women with stage II-IV serous ovarian cancer. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the association of long-term survival with patient (race, insurance, location, household income, education, distance traveled), clinical (age, comorbidities, stage, grade, primary treatment) and hospital factors (region, institution, hospital volume ≥20).

RESULTS

Of the 4640 women identified, 12% (n=561) experienced long-term survival. Median overall survival was 41 months (95% CI 39 to 42). The odds of long-term survival were lower for women with public or no insurance (adjusted OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.92), age ≥75 years (0.33, 0.22 to 0.50), any comorbidities (0.70, 0.54 to 0.92), higher stage (stage III: 0.31, 0.25 to 0.41; stage IV: 0.16, 0.12 to 0.22), and moderately/poorly differentiated, undifferentiated, or tumors of unknown grade (moderately/poorly differentiated: 0.30, 0.20 to 0.47; undifferentiated: 0.28, 0.17 to 0.47; unknown: 0.30, 0.18 to 0.50). The odds of long-term survival among women who were publicly insured were lower with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (0.13, 0.04 to 0.044) and higher with optimal cytoreduction (2.24, 1.49 to 3.36). Among women who were privately insured, the odds of long-term survival were higher with optimal cytoreduction (1.99, 1.46 to 2.70) and unaffected by neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

While immutable clinical factors such as age, stage, and grade are associated with long-term survival in women with serous ovarian cancer, modifiable factors, such as insurance type, optimal cytoreductive status, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy provide an opportunity for targeted improvement in care with potential to affect long-term patient outcomes.

Cytoreductive Surgery of the Primary Tumor in Metastatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Impact on Patients' Survival

CONTEXT

The role of cytoreduction of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) remains poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the impact of cytoreductive surgery of the primary tumor in patients with metastatic ACC.

DESIGN AND SETTING

We performed a multicentric, retrospective paired cohort study comparing the overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic ACC who were treated either with cytoreductive surgery (CR group) or without cytoreductive surgery (no-CR group) of the primary tumor. Data were retrieved from 9 referral centers in the American-Australian-Asian Adrenal Alliance collaborative research group.

PATIENTS

Patients aged ≥18 years with metastatic ACC at initial presentation who were treated between January 1, 1995, and May 31, 2019.

INTERVENTION

Performance (or not) of cytoreductive surgery of the primary tumor.

MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES

A propensity score match was done using age and the number of organs with metastasis (≤2 or >2). The main outcome was OS, determined from the date of diagnosis until death or until last follow-up for living patients.

RESULTS

Of 339 patients pooled, 239 were paired and included: 128 in the CR group and 111 in the no-CR group. The mean follow-up was 67 months. Patients in the no-CR group had greater risk of death than did patients in the CR group (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.18; 95% CI, 2.34-4.32). Independent predictors of survival included age (HR = 1.02; 95% CI, 1.00-1.03), hormone excess (HR = 2.56; 95% CI, 1.66-3.92), and local metastasis therapy (HR = 0.41; 95% CI, 0.47-0.65).

CONCLUSION

Cytoreductive surgery of the primary tumor in patients with metastatic ACC is associated with prolonged survival.

Nomogram to predict feasibility of minimally invasive interval debulking surgery in advanced ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

Currently, there is no clear guidance defining the ideal candidate for minimally invasive interval debulking surgery. This study aimed to identify predictive factors for a minimally invasive approach in patients with advanced ovarian cancer who are candidates for interval debulking surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODS

This was a single institution retrospective study conducted between January 2014 and June 2020 Perioperative variables were used to predict the likelihood of minimally invasive interval debulking surgery using multivariable models. A nomogram was developed, and internal validation was performed using the bootstrapping correction technique. This nomogram was built to visualize the effect of perioperative variables on the estimated probability of minimally invasive interval debulking surgery in patients with a clinical response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We used the four significant perioperative variables according to logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 108 (28.4%) and 272 (71.6%) patients underwent interval debulking surgery by a minimally invasive or open approach, respectively. Absence of omental cake (odds ratio (OR) 9.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.26 to 19.64, p<0.001), high volume surgeon (OR 5.43, 95% CI 2.75 to 10.71, p<0.001), less than two peritoneal sites involved (OR 2.94, 95% CI 1.34 to 6.43, p=0.007), and CA125 normalization (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.05 to 3.36, p=0.049) correlated with the feasibility of minimally invasive interval debulking surgery at multivariate analysis. The calibration plot demonstrated good agreement between the predicted and actual probability of minimally invasive interval debulking surgery (p=0.93, Hosmer-Lemeshow test).

CONCLUSIONS

Our nomogram may serve as a useful tool to choose the surgical approach in patients with advanced ovarian cancer undergoing interval debulking surgery.

Ascites volume at the time of primary debulking and overall survival of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the impact of malignant ascites volume on the outcomes of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma who undergo primary debulking surgery.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with stage III-IV epithelial ovarian carcinoma and bulky intra-abdominal (TIIIC) disease between 2010 and 2015, who underwent primary debulking surgery followed by multi-agent chemotherapy and known status of residual disease, were drawn from the National Cancer Database. Based on available information, the presence and volume of malignant ascites was categorized as absent, low (<980 mL), and high (>980 mL) volume. Median overall survival was determined from Kaplan-Meier curves and compared with the log rank test. A multivariate Cox model was constructed to control for confounders.

RESULTS

2493 patients were identified; 31.9% (n=795) had no ascites, 40.2% (n=1001) had low, and 28% (n=697) had high volume malignant ascites. Rate of complete gross resection was higher for patients with no ascites (65.9%) compared with those with low (35.6%) and high (23%) volume ascites (p<0.001). After controlling for stage, histology, grade, age, and comorbidities, compared with those with no ascites, patients with low (odds ratio (OR) 3.49, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.89 to 4.26) and high (OR 6.40, 95% CI 5.07 to 8.06) volume ascites were more likely to have gross residual disease. For patients who achieved complete gross resection after controlling for confounders compared with patients with no ascites, those with low (hazard ratio (HR) 1.37, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.72) and high volume ascites (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.47 to 2.55) had worse overall survival. Similarly, patients with low volume ascites had better survival compared with those with high volume ascites (HR 0.71 95% CI 0.54 to 0.93).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence and volume of malignant ascites at the time of primary debulking surgery was associated with the likelihood of achieving a complete gross resection and worse overall survival.

Surgical Debulking for Symptomatic Management of Calcinosis Cutis of the Hand and Upper Extremity in Systemic Sclerosis

PURPOSE

To determine whether elective calcinosis debulking surgery of the hands and/or upper extremities is a safe and effective treatment for painful symptomatic scleroderma. Our hypothesis was that calcinosis debulking surgery would result in improvement in patient-reported pain and range of motion (ROM) with relatively little postoperative surgical pain for scleroderma patients.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of scleroderma patients who underwent elective calcinosis debulking surgery by a single surgeon between August 2014 and August 2019. Patients were included if they had a documented diagnosis of limited or diffuse scleroderma and underwent elective or nonemergent hand or upper-extremity calcinosis debulking surgery with a minimum final follow-up of 12 months. Primary outcomes measured were preoperative to final follow-up changes in visual analog scale pain scores. Secondary outcomes were changes in numbness and ROM as well as in daily opioid requirements, postoperative opioids used to control surgical pain, and complications.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine patients underwent calcinosis debulking surgeries on 41 upper extremities. Median final follow-up was 22 months (range, 13-60 months). Significant decreases occurred in visual analog pain scores (preoperative median, 5 [range, 0-10); final follow-up median, 0 [range, 0-8]) and improved patient-reported ROM in 15% (no change, 85%; worse, 0%). There was no significant preoperative to final follow-up difference in patient-reported numbness (improved, 5%; no change, 85%; and worse, 10%). Thirteen patients incurred 17 complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Elective calcinosis debulking surgery of the hands and/or upper extremities in scleroderma decreased pain scores, improved patient-reported ROM in 15% of patients, and had no effect on patient-reported numbness at final follow-up.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic IV.

Predictive validity of American College of Surgeons: National Surgical Quality Improvement Project risk calculator in patients with ovarian cancer undergoing interval debulking surgery

INTRODUCTION

In gynecologic patients, few studies describe the accuracy of the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (ACS-NSQIP) pre-operative risk calculator for women undergoing surgery for ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the ACS-NSQIP risk calculator accurately predicts post-operative complications and length of stay in patients undergoing interval debulking surgery for advanced stage epithelial ovarian cancer.

METHODS

For this multi-institutional retrospective cohort study, pre-operative risk factors, post-operative complication rates, and Current Procedural Terminology codes were abstracted from records of patients with ovarian cancer managed with open interval debulking surgery from January 2010 to July 2015. A power calculation was done to estimate the minimum number of complications needed to evaluate the accuracy of the ACS-NSQIP risk calculator. Predicted risk compared with observed risk was calculated using logistic regression. The predictive accuracy of the ACS-NSQIP risk calculator in estimating post-operative complications or length of stay was assessed using c-statistics and Briar scores. Complications with a c-statistic of >0.70 and Brier score of <0.01 were considered to have high discriminative ability.

RESULTS

A total of 261 patients underwent interval debulking surgery, encompassing 21 unique Current Procedural Terminology codes. Readmission (n=25), surgical site infection (n=35), urinary tract infection (n=12), and serious post-operative complications (n=57) met the minimum event threshold (n>10). All predicted complication rates fell within the IQR of the observed incidence rates. However, the ACS-NSQIP calculator demonstrated neither discriminative ability nor accuracy for any post-operative complications based on c-statistics and Brier scores. The calculator accurately predicted length of stay within 1 day for only 32% of patients and could not accurately predict which patients were likely to have a prolonged length of stay (c-statistic=0.65).

CONCLUSION

Among patients undergoing interval debulking surgery, the ACS-NSQIP did not accurately discriminate which patients were at increased risk of complications or extended length of stay. The risk calculator should be considered to have limited utility in informing pre-operative counseling or surgical planning.

Guideline No. 403: Initial Investigation and Management of Adnexal Masses

OBJECTIVES

To aid primary care physicians, emergency medicine physicians, and gynaecologists in the initial investigation of adnexal masses, defined as lumps that appear near the uterus or in or around ovaries, fallopian tubes, or surrounding connective tissue, and to outline recommendations for identifying women who would benefit from a referral to a gynaecologic oncologist for further management.

INTENDED USERS

Gynaecologists, obstetricians, family physicians, general surgeons, emergency medicine specialists, radiologists, sonographers, nurses, medical learners, residents, and fellows.

TARGET POPULATION

Adult women 18 years of age and older presenting for the evaluation of an adnexal mass.

OPTIONS

Women with adnexal masses should be assessed for personal risk factors, history, and physical findings. Initial evaluation should also include imaging and laboratory testing to triage women for management of their care either by a gynaecologic oncologist or as per SOGC guideline no. 404 on the initial investigation and management of benign ovarian masses.

EVIDENCE

A search of PubMed, Cochrane Wiley, and the Cochrane systematic reviews was conducted in January 2018 for English-language materials involving human subjects published since 2000 using three sets of terms: (i) ovarian cancer, ovarian carcinoma, adnexal disease, ovarian neoplasm, adnexal mass, fallopian tube disease, fallopian tube neoplasm, ovarian cyst, and ovarian tumour; (ii) the above terms in combination with predict neoplasm staging, follow-up, and staging; and (iii) the above two sets of terms in combination with ultrasound, tumour marker, CA 125, CEA, CA19-9, HE4, multivariable-index-assay, risk-of-ovarian-malignancy-algorithm, risk-of-malignancy-index, diagnostic imaging, CT, MRI, and PET. Relevant evidence was selected for inclusion in descending order of quality of evidence as follows: meta-analyses, systematic reviews, guidelines, randomized controlled trials, prospective cohort studies, observational studies, non-systematic reviews, case series, and reports. Additional articles were identified through cross-referencing the identified reviews. The total number of studies identified was 2350, with 59 being included in this review.

VALIDATION METHODS

The content and recommendations were drafted and agreed upon by the authors. The Executive and Board of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada reviewed the content and submitted comments for consideration. The Board of Directors of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada approved the final draft for publication. The quality of evidence was rated using the criteria described in the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology framework (Table A1 of Online Appendix A). See Table A2 of Online Appendix A for the interpretation of strong and weak recommendations. The summary of findings is available upon request.

BENEFITS, HARMS, COSTS

Adnexal masses are common, and guidelines on how to triage them and manage the care of patients presenting with adnexal masses will continue to guide the practice of primary care providers and gynaecologists. Ovarian cancer outcomes are improved when initial surgery is performed by a gynaecologic oncologist, likely as a result of complete surgical staging and optimal cytoreduction. Given these superior outcomes, guidelines to assist in the triage of adnexal masses and the referral and management of the care of patients with an adnexal mass are critical.

SUMMARY STATEMENTS (GRADE RATINGS IN PARENTHESES)

RECOMMENDATIONS (GRADE RATINGS IN PARENTHESES).

Cytoreductive surgery followed by chemotherapy and olaparib maintenance in BRCA 1/2 mutated recurrent ovarian cancer: a retrospective MITO group study

INTRODUCTION

The role of cytoreductive surgery in the poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors era is not fully investigated. We evaluated the impact of surgery performed prior to platinum-based chemotherapy followed by olaparib maintenance in platinum-sensitive BRCA-mutated recurrent ovarian cancer.

METHODS

This retrospective study included platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer BRCA-mutated patients from 13 Multicenter Italian Trials in Ovarian cancer and gynecological malignancies centers treated between September 2015 and May 2019. The primary outcomes were progression-free survival and overall survival. Data on post-progression treatment was also assessed.

RESULTS

Among 209 patients, 72 patients (34.5%) underwent cytoreductive surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy and olaparib maintenance, while 137 patients (65.5%) underwent chemotherapy treatment alone. After a median follow-up of 37.3 months (95% CI: 33.4 to 40.8), median progression-free survival in the surgery group was not reached, compared with 11 months in patients receiving chemotherapy alone (P<0.001). Median overall survival was nearly double in patients undergoing surgery before chemotherapy (55 vs 28 months, P<0.001). Post-progression therapy was assessed in 127 patients: response rate to chemotherapy was 29.2%, 8.8%, and 9.0% in patients with platinum-free interval >12 months, between 6 and 12 months, and <6 months, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Cytoreductive surgery performed before platinum therapy and olaparib maintenance was associated with longer progression-free survival and overall survival in BRCA-mutated platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer patients. In accordance with our preliminary results, the response rate to chemotherapy given after progression during olaparib was associated with platinum-free interval.

Chemotherapy response score as a prognostic tool in patients with advanced stage endometrial carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy response score (CRS) applied to interval debulking specimens quantifies histopathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma and correlates with progression-free and overall survival.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the chemotherapy response score could be applied to interval debulking specimens in patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma and be a prognostic indicator.

METHODS

The study included patients with clinical stage III-IV endometrial carcinoma who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery. Chemotherapy response scores were assigned to omental and adnexal metastases, and categorized as no/minimal (CRS1), partial (CRS2), and complete/near-complete (CRS3) response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate baseline characteristics and feasibility of chemotherapy response score assessment. Univariate analyses were used to evaluate associations between the chemotherapy response score, complete cytoreduction, and survival.

RESULTS

This study included 40 patients. The median age was 63.5 years, and 31 patients (78%) had stage IV disease. Thirty patients had an omentectomy, 22 patients (73%) had an omental chemotherapy response score assigned. Thirty-nine patients had a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, 28 patients (72%) had an adnexal chemotherapy response score assigned. Omental CRS2 and CRS3 were associated with improved progression-free survival (CRS2: HR=0.18, p<0.01; CRS3: HR=0.11, p<0.01) and overall survival (CRS2: HR=0.10, p<0.01; CRS3: HR=0.16, p=0.04). Adnexal CRS2 and CRS3 were associated with improved progression-free survival (CRS2: HR=0.23, p<0.01; CRS3: HR=0.20, p=0.03). Chemotherapy response scores were also associated with an increased likelihood of having a complete cytoreduction.

CONCLUSION

Chemotherapy response score can be applied to omental and adnexal metastases in patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma and was associated with survival and complete cytoreduction. The score may be a prognostic indicator and help to guide first-line treatment of patients with endometrial carcinoma.