OBJECTIVETo evaluate prognostic factors which have an influence on overall survival and to assess the rational application of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

METHODSThe data of 131 patients treated between January 1990 and December 1998 in Union Hospital and Tongji Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and comparisons were performed using Log-rank test. Independent prognostic factors were identified by the Cox proportional hazards regression model.

RESULTSUnivariate analysis showed that age, general conditions, menopausal status, stage, pathological types, location of the tumor, residual tumor and retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy were prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis showed that age, stage, residual tumor, retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy and the number of courses of chemotherapy were the most important prognostic factors. The survival rate could not be improved through retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in the patients in early stage, advanced stage with residual tumor > 2 cm or those with mucinous adenocarcinoma (P > 0.05). Among patients in advanced stage cancer with a residual tumor

CONCLUSIONSThe prognosis of the patients with epithelial ovarian cancer may be influenced by age, stage, residual tumor, retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy and the number of courses of chemotherapy. Although retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy could improve the survival rate, it should be carried out selectively.