Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Reduces the Treatment-free Interval After First-line Treatment in Patients With Advanced Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Background/aim: The aim of the study was to compare platinum resistance and treatment-free interval (TFI) following treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and interval debulking surgery (IDS) or primary debulking surgery (PDS) in women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Patients and methods: The study included patients diagnosed with primary EOC, stage IIIC or IV, between 2005 and 2013. Patients were grouped according to first-line treatment (PDS vs. NACT-IDS). Date of second-line treatment initiation was used to evaluate platinum sensitivity.

Results: The study population included 521 patients, of which 371 (71%) and 150 (29%) underwent PDS and NACT-IDS, respectively. We found no difference in platinum resistance between groups. Platinum-sensitive patients treated with NACT-IDS had a shorter median TFI (372 vs. 497 days, p=0.042). Similarly, patients with no residual tumor after IDS had a shorter median TFI (280 vs. 302 days, p=0.005).

Conclusion: NACT-IDS may shorten the TFI after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.

Keywords: Ovarian cancer; neoadjuvant chemotherapy; platinum resistance; treatment-free interval.