Effects of Histology and Grade of Ovarian Cancer on the Outcome of Treatments

Objectives. To determine what the effects of histology and grade of ovarian cancer are on the outcome of cancer evidence following combined treatment (surgery and chemotherapy) versus surgery alone, in women above and below the age of 55 in South Florida. Background. Ovarian cancer is devastating, and the diagnosis is usually made in the later stages of the disease. Approximately 22,000 women will develop ovarian cancer this year in the U.S. and approximately 16,000 will die this year from the disease. The treatment options depend on the stage of the disease including surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation. Methods. We studied 6,646 individuals with ovary cancer diagnosed in Florida between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2002. This is a cross-sectional study design and we used the stratified Mantel-Haenszel method, controlling for ethnicity, histology, stage, age, and marital status. Results. Women with papillary serous carcinoma in a localized stage who are undergoing surgery and chemotherapy are 3.12 times more likely to have cancer evidence than women with the same characteristics undergoing surgery alone. Furthermore, women with metastasized papillary serous carcinoma of the ovary who undergo surgery and chemotherapy are 14% less likely to have cancer evidence than women with the same characteristics who undergo surgery alone .Women with metastasized papillary serous carcinoma may be receiving surgery alone when they should be receiving both surgery and chemotherapy. Conclusion. Surgery + chemotherapy are clearly not indicated treatments in women with localized papillary serous carcinoma of the ovary, while surgery alone is not indicated in women with metastasized papillary serous carcinoma of the ovary. Grants and Acknowledgement. This study was funded in part through the HPD Research Grant for Florida Cancer Registry Analysis, 2004-2007. The views expressed herein are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of FCDS, the contractor of FL-DOH