Twenty-three consecutive patients who had recurrent platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer and underwent TCR between January 1999 and January 2011 were evaluated. Factors which impact on TCR outcome and survival were determined by statistical analysis.
TCR was optimal (< 1 cm residual tumor) in 15 of the 23 patients (65.2 % ) and suboptimal in 8 patients (34.8 % ). None of the clinicopathologic factors was associated with TCR outcome. On the contrary, TCR outcome (optimal vs suboptimal) was independently associated with survival in univariate analysis (P = 0.018).
There is not a good predictor of TCR outcome but TCR seems to be beneficial for patients in whom optimal surgery can be achieved. Therefore, preoperative assessment of patients and weighing the potential survival benefit against potential surgical risks are very important for patient selection.