Evaluation of treatment and survival after positive second-look laparotomy

During the 9-year interval 1977 through 1985, of 250 patients undergoing second-look laparotomy, 116 (46%) were found to have clinically occult ovarian carcinoma. Salvage therapy consisted of external irradiation in 37, intraperitoneal 32P in 12, chemotherapy in 63, and no therapy in 3 or other therapy in 1. Eligible follow-up time ranged from 1 to 9 years. The Kaplan-Meier projected median time-to-progression and survival were 15 and 22.5 months, respectively, with 4-year progression-free and overall survival rates being 21 and 27%, respectively. Survival was independent of the original stage of disease but was significantly influenced by histologic grade and microscopic (55%) versus macroscopic (19%) residual tumor after the laparotomy. Projected 4-year salvage rates in patients with microscopic or residual disease less than or equal to 5 mm was 72, 39, and 19% for intraperitoneal 32P, external irradiation (33/37, whole abdominopelvic), and chemotherapy, respectively. However, multivariable analysis demonstrated that histologic grade and isotope therapy retained independent influence on survival, but no therapeutic advantage for external irradiation over chemotherapy was demonstrable. Furthermore, use of regimens that were identical to, partially altered from, or different from the first-trial agents did not affect chemotherapy salvage rates.