Is There a Role for Tertiary (TCR) and Quaternary (QCR) Cytoreduction in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer?

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of tertiary and quaternary cytoreduction in recurrent ovarian cancer patients.

Patients and methods: Between January 1997 and December 2014, 53 patients were submitted to cytoreductive surgery for second and third ovarian cancer recurrence at our Unit.

Results: Median age at first diagnosis was 48 years (range=20-69). Forty-six patients (86.8%) underwent tertiary cytoreduction. At the time of surgery, isolated and diffuse disease was observed in 48 (90.6%) and 5 (9.4%) patients, respectively. Complete and optimal cytoreduction was obtained in 41 (77.5%) and in 1 (1.9%) patients, respectively. We did not observe any statistically significant survival differences according to residual tumor. Patients with TFI >12 months showed longer PFS (38 vs. 7 months, p<0.002) than those with TFI <12 months. In 18 of these patients a third recurrence was observed. In 12 patients (66.7%) a complete quaternary cytoreduction was performed. Longer PFS (16 vs. 21 months; p=0.032) and OS (152 vs. 116 months; p=0.015) in patients submitted to cytoreduction with respect to those treated with chemotherapy were observed.

Conclusion: Our data suggest that selected ovarian cancer patients who develop a secondary and tertiary recurrence may benefit from additional cytoreductive attempts. The benefit seems to be greater in patients with TFI >12 months showing a single-site recurrence disease, in which complete cytoreduction is achievable. Further studies are required to better-define the role of tertiary and quaternary cytoreduction in recurrent ovarian cancer patients.