Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of ovarian cancer
Lehoczky, O.ó
Orvosi Hetilap 146(38): 1951-1955
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-6002 PMID: 16238247 Document Number: 587914
With certain ovarian cancer patients, programmed primary operation either cannot be attempted or if attempted, it is not successful because of the advanced state of the disease and the very poor condition of the patient. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy before operation is expected to enhance the results of treatment. Based on randomized studies it can be stated that the neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves survival only in cases of optimal tumor reduction. In opposite cases, with lack of optimal debulking, the overall and the progression-free survival rates are similar to those experienced with the nonoperated patients. The results of ongoing randomized trials are awaited to draw the final conclusions. However, neoadjuvant chemotherapy remain as an alternative treatment for patients with ovarian cancer of advanced stage and poor internal status, for whom there is no other choice for tumor elimination.