V. Jain

Isolated lymph node recurrence in epithelial ovarian cancer – management and outcome

The aim of our study was to assess the clinical outcome of isolated lymph node recurrence in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer treated by surgery and to analyze the impact of various clinico-pathological factors on prognosis. We conducted a retrospective analysis of all the epithelial ovarian cancer patients who underwent secondary lymphadenectomy surgery for isolated lymph node recurrence at our institute from 2013 to 2020. Univariate analysis of various factors influencing the post-recurrence disease free survival and post-recurrence survival was done using Kaplan-Meier for categorical variables and cox-proportional hazard progression for continuous variables. A total of 21 patients of isolated lymph node recurrence were treated surgically during the study period. The median disease free interval to develop lymph nodal recurrence was 13 months. All the patients achieved complete resection to no gross residual disease without any significant morbidity associated with the procedure. The median post-recurrence disease free survival after treatment of lymph node recurrence was 25 months with 3-year post-recurrence survival of 72% and 3-year overall survival of 85%. Amongst the factors influencing post-recurrence disease free survival, young age (< 50 years), para-aortic lymph node dissection at initial surgery and single site of lymph node recurrence were significantly associated with better prognosis. A single site of lymph node recurrence was associated with significantly better post-recurrence survival. Complete resection is feasible for epithelial ovarian cancer patients presenting with isolated lymph node recurrence, without any significant perioperative morbidity. When combined with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, complete resection is associated with favourable survival outcomes. Young age, para-aortic lymph node dissection during primary surgery and single site of lymph node recurrence are associated with better prognosis.

Salvage robotic anterior pelvic exenteration for cervical cancer: technique and feasibility

The aim of our study was to explain the technique and evaluate the feasibility and safety of robotic anterior pelvic exenteration in cases of residual/recurrent cervical cancer as a salvage therapy. The study was conducted as a retrospective review of all the cases of central residual/recurrent cervical cancer who underwent anterior pelvic exenteration by robotic approach with curative intent at our centre between January 2013 and December 2019. Information regarding various treatment related parameters like duration of surgery, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, early and late complications and recurrence and survival was collected and evaluated. 14 patients underwent anterior pelvic exenteration by robotic approach in this period. The median age of patients at time of exenteration was 52.5 years. 13 out of 14 patients had received combined chemoradiation as a part of intial treatment. The median duration of surgery was 305 min with a median estimated blood loss of 135 ml and median length of hospital stay of 6.5 days. Early complications like urosepsis, uretero-ileal anastomotic leak and paralytic ileus occurred in 36% patients and late complications like ureteric stricture and bowel perforation occurred in 28.6% patients. Negative surgical margins could be achieved in all the patients. Over a median follow-up period of 17.5 months, five patients developed recurrence and five patients experienced mortality, with four out of five patients dying due to recurrent disease. The 12-month DFS was 68.2% and the 12-month OS was 77.1%. Robotic anterior pelvic exenteration is a safe and feasible option in selected patients with recurrent/residual cervical cancer as a salvage procedure, with acceptable morbidity and mortality.

SUROVA study: global real-world treatment strategies and mortality risk prediction in advanced ovarian cancer

This study aimed to compare 5-year overall survival between primary debulking surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval surgery in patients with stage IIIB to IVB epithelial ovarian cancer, using global real-world data. Secondary objectives included evaluation of progression-free survival and the influence of race, post-operative complications, and residual disease. SUROVA is a retrospective, international cohort study involving patients treated between 2018 and 2019 across 174 centers in 55 countries. Patients underwent primary surgery or received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval surgery, per institutional protocols. Propensity score matching was based on 7 baseline variables: age, race, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status at diagnosis, CA125 level at diagnosis, FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stage IV disease, presence of ascites, and final tumor grade. Cox regression models with time-dependent effects and interaction terms were applied. A clinical risk calculator was developed and internally validated. A total of 3286 patients had a mean age of 60.0 years (SD 12); 2978 (90.6%) had high-grade serous carcinoma, and 795 (24.7%) presented with FIGO stage IV disease. A total of 1666 patients (50.7%) underwent primary cytoreductive surgery, and 1620 (49.3%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The median follow-up duration was 43.8 months (interquartile range; 22.6-59.3). After propensity score matching (n=1524), overall survival was similar between groups (67.2 vs 65.0 months; HR 1.002, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.18, p=.98). Outcomes differed by ethnicity, residual disease, and post-operative complications. Post-operative complications (28%) significantly worsened survival (66 vs 46 months; HR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2 to 1.9, p<.001), especially among patients undergoing primary surgery (73 vs 46 months; HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.43 to 2.37, p<.001). The most favorable outcomes were observed among patients with primary surgery, complete resection, and no complications, with median overall survival not reached (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.40, p<.001). Although overall survival was similar between groups, treatment effects differed by ethnicity, residual disease, and complications. Post-operative complications were associated with significantly worse survival, particularly among patients undergoing primary surgery, while the best outcomes were achieved in those who had primary surgery with complete resection and no complications.