The Limitations of Surgery in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer
By Pat Battaglia
A randomized, multinational, phase III clinical trial called GOG-0213, which was conducted by researchers at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, took a look at surgical cytoreduction, also known as debulking surgery, in women with recurrent ovarian cancer tumors that were small, operable, and had responded to previous platinum-based chemotherapy with a disease-free interval of at least six months. The primary endpoint of this study was overall survival. From December 2007 until June 2017, 485 eligible women were randomized to receive one of two regimens: surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy (with or without the addition of bevacizumab, a drug that blocks the formation of blood vessels) or the same regimen without surgery.
The researchers found that within their carefully selected patient population, surgery followed by chemotherapy did not result in longer overall survival than chemotherapy alone. After recovering from their procedures, those who underwent surgery had a similar quality of life as members of the control group, and surgery remains a consideration for some individuals, depending on their circumstances.
Patients with shorter progression-free intervals and/or a larger disease burden account for a significant number of those experiencing recurrent ovarian cancer, and the ramifications of this study for that population are unclear. Additionally, the use of bevacizumab is a reflection of current practice and may have had a role in minimizing the effects of surgery.
Ongoing research adds to our knowledge base about cancer, whether or not the results lead to new therapies or change any standards of care. The GOG-0213 trial opens the door to a new understanding of the role of surgery for those with recurrent ovarian cancer. Overall survival and quality of life matter to patients, and this recent research may lead to a more cautious approach to surgery for some whose disease recurs.
As always, individual treatment decisions are a matter of careful discussion between patients and their health care providers, and take into account a host of personal factors. If you or someone you know has experienced recurrent ovarian cancer and would like the support of knowledgeable, compassionate survivors and advocates, call us at the Coalition. We’re here to empower you to make the best decisions for yourself.
Sources:
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1902626
https://ascopost.com/issues/february-10-2020
https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2019/ovarian-cancer-surgery-recurrent-survival
This story appeared in the Spring 2020 edition of Voices of the Ribbon newsletter.
The Limitations of Surgery in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer
By Pat Battaglia
A randomized, multinational, phase III clinical trial called GOG-0213, which was conducted by researchers at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, took a look at surgical cytoreduction, also known as debulking surgery, in women with recurrent ovarian cancer tumors that were small, operable, and had responded to previous platinum-based chemotherapy with a disease-free interval of at least six months. The primary endpoint of this study was overall survival. From December 2007 until June 2017, 485 eligible women were randomized to receive one of two regimens: surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy (with or without the addition of bevacizumab, a drug that blocks the formation of blood vessels) or the same regimen without surgery.
The researchers found that within their carefully selected patient population, surgery followed by chemotherapy did not result in longer overall survival than chemotherapy alone. After recovering from their procedures, those who underwent surgery had a similar quality of life as members of the control group, and surgery remains a consideration for some individuals, depending on their circumstances.
Patients with shorter progression-free intervals and/or a larger disease burden account for a significant number of those experiencing recurrent ovarian cancer, and the ramifications of this study for that population are unclear. Additionally, the use of bevacizumab is a reflection of current practice and may have had a role in minimizing the effects of surgery.
Ongoing research adds to our knowledge base about cancer, whether or not the results lead to new therapies or change any standards of care. The GOG-0213 trial opens the door to a new understanding of the role of surgery for those with recurrent ovarian cancer. Overall survival and quality of life matter to patients, and this recent research may lead to a more cautious approach to surgery for some whose disease recurs.
As always, individual treatment decisions are a matter of careful discussion between patients and their health care providers, and take into account a host of personal factors. If you or someone you know has experienced recurrent ovarian cancer and would like the support of knowledgeable, compassionate survivors and advocates, call us at the Coalition. We’re here to empower you to make the best decisions for yourself.
Sources:
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1902626
https://ascopost.com/issues/february-10-2020
https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2019/ovarian-cancer-surgery-recurrent-survival
This story appeared in the Spring 2020 edition of Voices of the Ribbon newsletter.
