Cure Rate After Chemotherapy in Stage III Ovarian Cancer

July 27, 2022 11:09 am

The following article is provided by The Clearity Foundation to support women with ovarian cancer and their families. Learn more about The Clearity Foundation and the services we provide directly to women as they make treatment decisions and navigate emotional impacts of their diagnosis.

cancer patient

by Vicki Moore, PhD

Researchers found that 18% of patients with advanced ovarian cancer remained disease-free for at least 10 years after receiving chemotherapy and were likely cured. The team detailed their findings in Gynecologic Oncology.

To determine what proportion of patients are likely cured after chemotherapy, the researchers analyzed data from 3 randomized trials — GOG-104, GOG-114, and GOG-172 — with long-term follow-up.

The trials enrolled patients with optimally debulked stage III epithelial ovarian cancer or primary peritoneal cancer, and the patients received intravenous or intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

A total of 1174 patients were included in the current analysis, and the median follow-up was 141 months.

The rate of long-term overall survival (LTOS) lasting at least 10 years was 26%, and the rate of long-term disease-free survival (LTDFS) lasting at least 10 years was 18%.

In a multivariate analysis, only younger age was an independent predictor of LTDFS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.076; 95% CI, 1.03-1.12; P <.001) and LTOS (HR, 1.097; 95% CI, 1.042-1.155; P <.001).

In a multivariate analysis of patients who had survived at least 10 years, a longer disease-free period was linked to a lower risk of death (HR, 0.225; 95% CI, 0.118-0.429; P <.001), and older patients had a higher risk of relapse or death (HR, 1.047; 95% CI, 1.017-1.077; P =.002).

The researchers concluded that the 18% of patients with LTDFS lasting at least 10 years are “likely cured.” The team added that these results could serve as a benchmark for examining the effects of newer treatment approaches on LTDFS.

Disclosures: One study author declared affiliations with biotech, pharmaceutical, and/or device companies. Please see the original reference for a full list of disclosures.

Reference

Pitiyarachchi O, Friedlander M, Java JJ, et al. What proportion of patients with stage 3 ovarian cancer are potentially cured following intraperitoneal chemotherapy? Analysis of the long term (≥10 years) survivors in NRG/GOG randomized clinical trials of intraperitoneal and intravenous chemotherapy in stage III ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol. Published online July 11, 2022. doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2022.07.004

This article was published by Cancer Therapy Advisor.

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