Risk factors that increase recurrence in borderline ovarian cancers

In this study, we aimed to compare the clinical and pathological results of borderline ovarian tumor cases that were operated on in our clinic within the last 15 years and to investigate the factors affecting recurrence.

The archived files of the patients with borderline ovarian tumors, who had been operated on at the Akdeniz University Medical Faculty Gynecological Oncology Unit between 2006 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 48 cases were identified and included in the study. Oncological results affecting relapse were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analysis models. Disease-free survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method.

The median follow-up period of the 48 patients included in our study was 51.5 months and while the shortest follow-up was 2 months, the longest follow-up period was 164 months. The mean age of the patients was 47.6 ± 12.5 years, and the mean BMI was found to be 27.2 ± 3.7. Of the patients, 19 (39.6%) were post-menopausal, and when all stages were included, the 10-year progression free survival (PFS) was 65%, while the 10-year overall survival (OS) was 96.6%. It was observed that 8 (16.6%) patients encountered recurrence during their follow-up. The multivariate analysis of significance found for the operation type, adjuvant chemotherapy and micro-invasion in the univariate analysis of clinical pathological characteristics with regard to recurrence, fertility-sparing surgery and micro-invasion were determined to have a significant difference in recurrence (p: 0,016, p: 0,048).

Borderline ovarian tumors are especially seen in young patients and although their clinical prognosis is very good, a significant difference was found in recurrence in patients who had undergone fertility-sparing surgery, in whom the micro-invasion was positive and in those receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, and disease-free survival was shorter in these patients and close follow-up of these patients is recommended.