Intrathoracic surgery as part of primary cytoreduction for advanced ovarian cancer: Going to the next level – A Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center study

• Published in: Gynecologic oncology Vol. 170; pp. 46 - 53
• Main Authors: Kahn, Ryan M., McMinn, Erin, Yeoshoua, Effi, Boerner, Thomas, Zhou, Qin, Iasonos, Alexia, Long Roche, Kara, Zivanovic, Oliver, Gardner, Ginger J., Sonoda, Yukio, O'Cearbhaill, Roisin E., Grisham, Rachel N., Tew, William, Jones, David, Huang, James, Park, Bernard J., Abu-Rustum, Nadeem R., Chi, Dennis S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2023
• Subjects: Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial - drug therapy; Cytoreduction; Cytoreduction Surgical Procedures; Female; Humans; Intrathoracic surgery; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Neoplasm Staging; Ovarian cancer; Ovarian Neoplasms - pathology; Retrospective Studies; Intrathoracic surgery; Cytoreduction; Ovarian cancer
• ISSN: 0090-8258; 1095-6859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2022.12.023

We investigated the feasibility, safety, and survival outcomes of intrathoracic cytoreduction during primary debulking surgery (PDS) for advanced ovarian cancer. We conducted a database review of patients with stage IIIB-IV ovarian (including fallopian tube and primary peritoneal) carcinoma who underwent PDS at our institution from 01/01/2006–9/30/2021. Patients who underwent intrathoracic cytoreduction as part of primary treatment were included. Patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy or surgery for reasons other than cytoreduction were excluded. Among 178 patients identified for inclusion, complete gross resection (CGR) in the abdomen and thorax was achieved in 131 (74%); 45 (25%) had optimal cytoreduction, and 2 (1%) had suboptimal cytoreduction. Thirty-one patients (17%) had at least one grade ≥ 3 complication; 8 were possibly related to intrathoracic cytoreduction. There were no deaths within 30 days following surgery. Median length of follow-up among survivors was 53.4 months. Among all patients, the median PFS was 33.6 months (95% CI: 24.7–61.9) and the 3-year PFS rate was 48.9% (95% CI: 41.2%–56.2%). Median OS was 81.3 months (95% CI: 68.9–103). When stratified by residual disease status, median PFS was 51.8 months when CGR was achieved versus 16.7 months with residual disease (HR: 2.17; P < .001) and median OS was 97.6 months when CGR was achieved versus 65.9 months with residual disease (HR: 2.05; P = .003). Intrathoracic cytoreduction during PDS for advanced ovarian cancer is both safe and feasible. CGR can be achieved in patients with intrathoracic disease if properly selected, and could significantly improve both PFS and OS. •Intrathoracic surgery for advanced ovarian cancer is both safe and feasible.•Complete gross resection of ovarian cancer can be obtained in patients with intrathoracic disease.•Primary cytoreductive surgery with intrathoracic procedures can offer excellent survival outcomes in select patients.