[Developments in the therapy of advanced FIGO III ovarian cancer]

From 1982 to 1992 103 patients with ovarian cancer stage FIGO III have been treated. In 38% of the patients there was no residual tumour postoperatively, in 40.8% the residual tumour was smaller than 2 cm. In 51.5% bowel resections were necessary, a stoma was unavoidable in just one case. A lymphadenectomy (pelvic, paraaortic or combined) was done in 46.6% of the patients. Postoperatively, 54.4% of the patients received a platinum-based chemotherapy, in the other patients other kinds of chemotherapy were applied. A radiation of the whole abdomen was done only in 3.9%. A median survival time for more than 60 months could be achieved in tumour-free patients due to the increased radical operations in combination with the platinum based chemotherapy. The lymphadenectomy seems to prolong the survival time of the patients. The positive nodal status is definitely unfavourable for the prognosis. By this therapeutic approach, an increased survival time with a good life quality can be achieved.