Management of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: a European survey

The aim of this study was to assess current European practices in the management of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer in 2021.

A 58-question electronic survey was distributed anonymously to the members of six European learned societies. Initial diagnostic workup and staging, pathological data, surgical data, treatments and follow-up strategies were assessed.

A total of 171 participants from 17 European countries responded to emailed surveys. Most participants were experienced practitioners (superior than 15 years of experience) specializing in gynecology-obstetrics (29.8%), surgical oncology (25.1%), and oncogynecology (21.6%). According to most (64.8%) participants, less than 50% of patients were eligible for primary debulking surgery. Variations in the rate of primary debulking surgery depending on the country of origin of the practitioners were observed in this study. The LION study criteria were applied in 70.4% of cases during PDS and 27.1% after chemotherapy. In cases of BRCA1-2 mutations, olaparib was given by 75.0-84.8% of respondents, whereas niraparib was given in cases of BRCA wild-type diseases.

This study sheds light on current practices and attitudes regarding the management of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer in Europe in 2021.