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Updated: Sep 20, 2026
Murine Model for Non-invasive Imaging to Detect and Monitor Ovarian Cancer Recurrence
Published on: November 2, 2014
Can patients with relapsed, previously untreated, stage I epithelial ovarian cancer be successfully treated with
Desiree F Kolomainen1, Roger A'Hern, Fareeda Y Coxon
1Gynaecology Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ, UK.
Purpose:
The role of adjuvant chemotherapy in early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has been controversial. We have previously reported the cases of patients managed with a policy of observation only. We now present the salvage rate for the patients in that study who experienced relapse.
Patients And Methods:
One hundred ninety-four patients with stage I EOC presenting between 1980 and 1994 received no adjuvant chemotherapy, but were treated with platinum-based chemotherapy at relapse. We calculated the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for the whole cohort and the salvage rate for those who experienced relapse. We defined salvage as freedom from relapse for 5 years after platinum treatment.
Results:
Sixty-one (31%) of 194 patients experienced relapse, and 55 received platinum-based chemotherapy. Twenty-four percent were progression-free at 5 years after this treatment. Clear-cell histology and cyst rupture before the patients' original surgery were independent prognostic factors for PFS after salvage chemotherapy. The OS for all 194 patients is 72% at 10 years (median follow-up, 8.7 years), with an 80% disease-specific survival (DSS).
Conclusion:
We have shown that some patients with stage I EOC can be successfully treated with a salvage chemotherapy regimen after a policy of observation only. Interestingly, approximately 30% of stage I patients who die within 10 years do so from causes other than EOC (OS, 72%; DSS, 80%). Our findings need to be taken into consideration when the results from recent randomized trials of adjuvant chemotherapy in this patient population (International Collaborative Ovarian Neoplasm Trial 1/European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Ovarian Neoplasm Trial) are being discussed with patients.
