Prognostic significance of second-look laparotomy for surgically confirmed early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer: a multicenter retrospective study.
BACKGROUND
In the present study, we conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis to elucidate the prognostic significance of second-look laparotomy (SLL) in early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer that was confirmed by complete surgical exploration.


METHODS
In July 2001, 12 Japanese institutions received questionnaires regarding patients with early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer and SLL. Eligibility criteria included patients with stage I or II epithelial ovarian cancer who were surgically diagnosed between January 1988 and December 1997. Data were collected regarding age, performance status, tumor histologic subtype, stage, preoperative carbohydrate antigen (CA) 125 level, results of SLL if performed, recurrence, disease-free survival, and overall survival. Survival analyses and comparisons were performed by univariate methods.


RESULTS
There were 87 patients who met the eligibility criteria. There were no significant differences in the backgrounds of patients who had had SLL ( n = 30) and the non-SLL group ( n = 57). Of the 30 SLL-group patients, 28 had negative SLL findings and 2 had positive findings. Six and 5 patients in the SLL group and the non-SLL group, respectively, had recurrence ( P = 0.177), and 4 patients in the SLL group had a recurrence after "negative" SLL findings. There was no significant difference between the two groups for either overall ( P = 0.73) or disease-free survival ( P = 0.273). On univariate analysis, only clear-cell histology was associated with a poor prognosis in early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer ( P = 0.031).


CONCLUSIONS
SLL is not beneficial for early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer. More favorable outcomes will be achieved for early-stage patients with the improvement of treatment for clear-cell adenocarcinoma.
Sato
Naoko
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan. jakahira@ob-gy.med.tohoku.ac.jp
Akahira
Jun-ichi
J
Kitamura
Takako
T
Aoki
Michiko
M
Yoshinaga
Kosuke
K
Okamura
Chikako
C
Utsunomiya
Hiroki
H
Shimizu
Takao
T
Niikura
Hitoshi
H
Ito
Kiyoshi
K
Okamura
Kunihiro
K
Yaegashi
Nobuo
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D024162:Second-Look Surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016387:Women's Health
D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002945:Cisplatin