PROGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF LYMPHADENECTOMY FOR EPITHELIAL OVARIAN-CANCER

Between 1989 and 1991, 150 patients with ovarian cancer were treated w ith chemotherapy, including cisplatin, in the Tokai Ovarian Tumor Stud y Group. Of these patients, 25 underwent cytoreductive surgery with ly mphadenectomy, including removal of either pelvic or para-aortic lymph nodes, and 36 underwent both lymphadenectomies. A significant differe nce was observed between survival curves of the groups with positive a nd negative lymph nodes, respectively (P = 0.0049). The overall surviv al was longer in the lymphadenectomy group than in the nonlymphadenect omy group (P = 0.0842), and a significantly longer survival time was n oted for stage III patients who underwent lymphadenectomy compared to those who did not (P = 0.0185). Multivariate analysis demonstrated tha t lymphadenectomy is a positive prognostic factor. The authors conclud e that both pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes should be resected to i mprove survival as well as to assess exact staging in patients with ov arian cancer. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.