Use of P-32 in stage III epithelial carcinoma of the ovary

From 1982 through 1989, 56 patients with Stage III epithelial carcinoma of the ovary received intraperitoneal chromic phosphate following chemotherapy and second look (52 pts) or as the only postsurgical management (4 pts). Median follow-up was 48 months (range of 24 to 108 months). The 4 patients treated following primary surgery with P-32 without chemotherapy had microscopic abdominal disease (3 pts) or complete reduction of gross abdominal disease (1 pt), and their 5-year survival was 100%. Of the 52 patients treated with P-32 following PAC chemotherapy, 23 were pathologic negative, 15 had microscopic residual, and 14 had gross residual at second look. The 5-year survival following second look was 75% for negative, 48% for microscopic, and 32% for gross residual. There were 4 Grade 3 GI complications (7%). There were no complications in the 38 patients who received the P-32 within 12 hr of surgery. The use of P-32 as an adjuvant for Stage I and II epithelial carcinoma of ovary has been found to be effective in prior GOG trials. We have expanded the selection criteria in patients with Stage III carcinoma to include those who can be surgically reduced to microscopic residual at primary surgery or second look following chemo reduction. Because of multiple prognostic variables affecting survival in Stage III ovarian cancer, a randomized study with control arm would be necessary to draw firm conclusions regarding the effectiveness of P-32. The 5-year survival in this group of patients compares favorably to published reports.