by Wiley

Intermediate magnification micrograph of a low malignant potential (LMP) mucinous ovarian tumour. H&E stain. The micrograph shows: Simple mucinous epithelium (right) and mucinous epithelium that pseudo-stratifies (left - diagnostic of a LMP tumour). Epithelium in a frond-like architecture is seen at the top of image. Credit: Nephron /Wikipedia. CC BY-SA 3.0

New research indicates that for women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer whose cancer has relapsed after surgery, a second surgery is worth considering. The population-based registry study confirms the results suggested by a recent randomized trial.

In the Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica study, secondary surgery delayed a new recurrence for 2 years and resulted in at least 6 years median overall survival.

"Treatment for ovarian cancer is centralized to only a few hospitals in Norway. The favourable results may encourage other countries to adopt this model in order to treat more patients with secondary surgery at first recurrence," said lead author Dr. Witold Szczesny, of the Cancer Registry of Norway.

More information: Witold Szczesny et al, Survival after secondary cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone for first recurrence in patients with platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer and no residuals after primary treatment. A registry-based study, Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica (2018). DOI: 10.1111/aogs.13361

Journal information: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 

Provided by Wiley