[Recurrence risk factors of platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer]

The prognosis of platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer patients was better than that of chemoresistant ones. However, platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer patients still have a high recurrence rate, which affects their prognosis. This study was designed to analyze clinical features and recurrence risk factors of platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer.

Factors that might relate to recurrence of 90 platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer patients, admitted in Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University from 1993 to 1999, with complete remission of more than 6 months, were assessed. Univariate analysis was performed using Chi(2) test; while multivariate analysis was carried out using Cox proportional hazard model.

Among the 90 patients, 36(40.0%) relapsed with the median recurrence-free interval of 20 months. Pelvic cavity (18/36, 50.0%) was the most frequently involved. The 3-and 5-year survival rates of all patients were 79.6% and 69.5%; while those of the recurrent ones were 62.3% and 39.6%. Univariate analysis showed that the early FIGO stage group, mucinous type group, and no neoadjuvant chemotherapy group had lower recurrence rates than advanced FIGO stage group, non-mucinous type group, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy group, respectively (P=0.001, P=0.002, and P=0.025). Cox multivariate analysis showed that only FIGO stage was the independent risk factor of recurrence of ovarian cancer (risk ratio=1.771, P=0.003). There was no significant difference in recurrence rate between CBP and other postoperative chemotherapy regimen groups. More cycles of chemotherapy could not reduce the recurrence rate.

Since FIGO stage is an independent recurrence risk factor of platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer patients, early diagnosis is the key point to decrease the recurrence rate.