Epithelial ovarian cancer: Does the time interval between primary surgery and postoperative chemotherapy have any prognostic importance?

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2009;88(4):373-7. doi: 10.1080/00016340902814559.

Abstract

Worldwide, much effort is used every day to perform optimal surgery in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer. Treatment of ovarian cancer is a combination of surgery with optimal debulking followed by chemotherapy. However, the optimal timing of postoperative chemotherapy for ovarian cancer remains poorly defined. The literature is made up of seven studies performed in different ways and which have included varying prognostic factors. The general supposition is that the time interval (TI) does not have a prognostic influence but experimental studies have shown that it does affect the prognosis of the cancer. This commentary focuses on the importance of the TI between surgery and postoperative chemotherapy in this horrible disease.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / mortality
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / surgery*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / mortality
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Postoperative Period
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Rate
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents