J. Markowska et al., Factors influencing period of time between negative second-look laparotomyand ovarian carcinoma recurrence. Multicenter study in Poland, EUR J GYN O, 21(2), 2000, pp. 164-167
Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate factors such as primary cli
nical stage, presence of ascites, serum CA 125 antigen level, histological
type of ovarian cancer, cell differentiation and number of chemotherapy cyc
les influencing the time of recurrence after negative second-look operation
s.
Material and Methods: Having observed complete clinical remission in 356 pa
tients with ovarian cancer, second-look laparotomy was performed. In 180 pa
tients complete pathologic remission was detected and in 73 recurrence was
observed. Correlation analysis between time of recurrence and the above-men
tioned prognostic factors was carried out by means of the Mann-Whitney and
Kruskal-Wallis tests.
Results: The time from the second-look operation till diagnosis of relapse
ranged from 7 to 36 months (average 21 months). The statistical analysis sh
owed a correlation between the presence of ascites, increased serum CA 125
antigen level, the administration of six chemotherapy courses and the time
of recurrence. In all these cases relapse occurred earlier than in patients
without ascites, with normal CA 125 antigen levels and after ten courses o
f chemotherapy.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the stage of clinical advancement and
histologic grading do not influence the time of recurrence. The presence o
f ascites, increased serum CA 125 antigen level and the administration of f
ewer chemotherapy courses (6 versus 10) after primary surgery affects the e
arlier relapse of disease.