Centralisation of epithelial ovarian cancer surgery: results on survival from a peripheral teaching hospital

The objective of this retrospective descriptive study was to assess overall survival and disease free survival of patients treated for epithelial ovarian cancer by a gynaecologic-oncologist in a single Dutch peripheral teaching hospital and to identify independent prognostic factors.

A retrospective series of 242 patients treated for epithelial ovarian cancer between 1999 and 2011 at Meander Medical Centre was reviewed. Data on patient, tumour and treatment characteristics were collected. Outcomes were overall survival and progression free survival. Data were analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test and Cox regression analysis.

Median follow-up was 35 months (range 1-203). Staging procedures were performed in 81 patients of which 63% were complete. 61% of patients had advanced stage disease. In 46%, debulking surgery was complete. Five-year overall survival and progression free survival for all patients was 52% and 47%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified performance status [HR=1.89 and 1.92 for performance status 2, HR=7.01 and 2.69 for performance status 3], FIGO stage [HR=3.59 for stage II, HR=5.43 and 5.64 for stage III, HR=12.17 and 10.21 for stage IV] and residual disease after debulking surgery [HR=2.01 and 1.72 for incomplete debulking] as independent prognostic factors for overall survival and progression free survival respectively.

Survival after surgery for epithelial ovarian cancer in this cohort is comparable to survival in centralised clinics presented in literature. Partial concentration of cancer care by recruitment of specialised gynaecologic-oncologists in teaching hospitals might be an alternative to complete centralisation of epithelial ovarian cancer treatment in larger cancer centres.