The standard treatment of advanced ovarian cancer is rapidly changing. As we begin to understand that epithelial ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous disease, our treatment strategies are evolving to include novel biologic drugs that specifically exploit altered pathways. Surgery remains an essential component in the treatment of ovarian cancer; however, the importance of surgical specialization and defining "optimal cytoreduction" as no visible residual disease has been further validated. Ongoing studies are defining the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the upfront treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. In addition, clinical trials are evaluating intraperitoneal, dose dense, antiangiogenic drugs as well as targeted maintenance therapies which will establish new standards of care in the near future.
Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Standard of Care

OBJECTIVE: Despite the rarity of uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) and uterine clear cell carcinoma (UCCC), they contribute disproportionately to endometrial cancer deaths. Sufficient clinical information regarding treatment and prognosis is lacking. The aim of this study is to evaluate treatment outcomes in a rare cancer cohort based on the experience at two tertiary care cancer centers. METHODS: Clinicopathologic data were retrospectively collected on 279 patients with UPSC and UCCC treated between 1995 to 2011. Mode of surgery, use of adjuvant treatment, and dissection of paraaoritc lymph nodes were evaluated for their association with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: 40.9% of patients presented with stage I disease, 6.8% of patients presented with stage II disease and 52.3% of patients presented with stages III and IV. Median follow-up was 31 months (range, 1 to 194 months). OS and PFS at 5 years were 63.0% and 51.9%, respectively. OS and PFS were not affected by mode of surgery (open vs. robotic approach; OS: hazard ratio [HR], 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28 to 1.62; PFS: HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.40 to 1.56). Adjuvant treatment was associated with improved OS in stages IB-II (HR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.78; p=0.026) but not in stage IA disease. There was no difference in OS or PFS based on the performance of a paraaoritc lymph node dissection. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive surgical staging appears a reasonable strategy for patients with non-bulky UPSC and UCCC and was not associated with diminished survival. Adjuvant treatment improved 5-year survival in stages IB-II disease.
Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/pathology/secondary/*therapy ; Aged ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Papillary/pathology/secondary/*therapy ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous/pathology/secondary/*therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Professional Practice ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies ; Robotic Surgical Procedures ; Survival Analysis ; Treatment Outcome ; Uterine Neoplasms/pathology/*therapy

OBJECTIVE: Bevacizumab was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in recurrent platinum resistant epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), fallopian tube cancer (FTC), or primary peritoneal cancer (PPC) when no more than two prior cytotoxic regimens have been used; due to concerns for gastrointestinal perforation. We sought to determine bevacizumab-related toxicities in heavily pretreated recurrent EOC. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with recurrent EOC, FTC, and PPC from 2001 to 2011. Patients who received at least two prior chemotherapy regimens before bevacizumab were included. Medical records were reviewed for bevacizumab associated toxicities. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test was used to compare quantitative variables. Survival was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Sixty patients met inclusion criteria. At the start of bevacizumab treatment, the median age was 60 years and the median body mass index was 26.5 kg/m². More than 50% of patients received bevacizumab after three prior cytotoxic regimens. Grade 3 or higher bevacizumab associated toxicity events occurred in four patients, including one patient who developed a rectovaginal fistula. The median overall survival from the start of bevacizumab treatment was 21.05 months (95% CI, 18.23 to 32.67; range, 1.9 to 110 months). The number of cytotoxic regimens prior to bevacizumab treatment did not differ in those that experienced a toxicity versus those that did not (p=0.66). CONCLUSION: The use of bevacizumab in heavily pretreated EOC, FTC, or PPC is worth consideration.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Bevacizumab/*adverse effects ; Fallopian Tube Neoplasms/*drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Perforation/chemically induced ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/*drug therapy ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/*drug therapy ; Ovarian Neoplasms/*drug therapy ; Peritoneal Neoplasms/*drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies