Yong Jung Song

Incidence and treatment outcomes of ovarian carcinosarcoma from the national cancer registry of Korea

To investigate the incidence and survival outcomes of ovarian carcinosarcoma in Korea between 1999 and 2018. Patients diagnosed with ovarian carcinosarcoma between 1999 and 2018 were identified from the Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR) and their information was collected. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs), annual percent changes (APC), and relative survival rates of ovarian carcinosarcoma were calculated and compared to those of epithelial ovarian cancer. According to the KCCR, 458 cases of ovarian carcinosarcoma were detected, and accounted for 1.5% (458/30,679) of all epithelial ovarian cancers in Korea between 1999 and 2018. The ASR of ovarian carcinosarcoma between 1999 and 2018 was 0.064 per 100,000 women. The incidence rate of ovarian carcinosarcoma increased during the study period, with an ASR of 0.029 per 100,000 in 1999 and 0.073 per 100,000 in 2018. The APC of ovarian carcinosarcoma during 1999-2018 was 5.86 (p<0.001). The median overall survival (OS) of patients with ovarian carcinosarcoma was 39 months, and the 5-year OS rate was 42.5%. Among ovarian carcinosarcomas, patients with localized stages showed better clinical outcomes than those with regional or distant stages (5-year OS, 60.8%, 57.9%, and 32.8%, respectively; p<0.001). In addition, younger (<50 years) patients showed better OS than older (≥50 years) patients (5-year OS, 52.6% vs. 40.2%; p<0.001). Our nationwide registry-based study demonstrated that the incidence of ovarian carcinosarcoma increased from 1999 to 2018 in Korea. Patients with advanced-stage disease and older age (≥50 years) had poorer survival outcomes.

Current peritonectomy practice during debulking surgery in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer: a Korean Gynecologic Oncology Group Study (KGOG 4004)

Because of the possible therapeutic benefit of removing occult tumor cells, a source of recurrence and chemoresistance, total parietal peritonectomy (TPP) is an alternative treatment for advanced epithelial ovarian/fallopian tube/primary peritoneal cancer. Interventional studies comparing TPP with selective parietal peritonectomy (SPP) are in progress. Since surgeons skilled in TPP are essential for such trials to be conducted, this nationwide survey aimed to examine current peritonectomy practice among gynecologic oncologists in Korea. A 17-item questionnaire, developed by a surgery committee and reviewed by the scientific review board of the Korean Gynecology Oncology Group (KGOG), was distributed to 144 KGOG members. The questionnaire was divided into 3 categories: respondent demographics, peritonectomy practice during primary debulking surgery (PDS), and peritonectomy practice during interval debulking surgery (IDS). We received 88 (61.1%) valid responses. Of the valid respondents, 98.9% and 93.8% performed SPP during PDS and IDS, respectively. Only 4.9% of the respondents performed TPP during IDS. Most respondents performed peritonectomy in cases where optimal postoperative outcomes were expected. Approximately 50.6% of the respondents had performed peritonectomy independently, while the others did so in cooperation with non-gynecologic surgeons. The primary reasons for not performing TPP were concerns about morbidity and uncertainty about the clinical benefits of the procedure. SPP is the predominant technique used in both PDS and IDS in Korea. A small percentage (4.9%) of gynecologic oncologists have performed TPP during IDS. Accordingly, a study regarding the feasibility of TPP should be conducted before proceeding with a prospective clinical trial.

Therapeutic effects of surgical debulking of metastatic lymph nodes in cervical cancer IIICr: a trial protocol for a phase III, multicenter, randomized controlled study (KGOG1047/DEBULK trial)

Bulky or multiple lymph node (LN) metastases are associated with poor prognosis in cervical cancer, and the size or number of LN metastases is not yet reflected in the staging system and therapeutic strategy. Although the therapeutic effects of surgical resection of bulky LNs before standard treatment have been reported in several retrospective studies, well-planned randomized clinical studies are lacking. Therefore, the aim of the Korean Gynecologic Oncology Group (KGOG) 1047/DEBULK trial is to investigate whether the debulking surgery of bulky or multiple LNs prior to concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) improves the survival rate of patients with cervical cancer IIICr diagnosed by imaging tests. The KGOG 1047/DEBULK trial is a phase III, multicenter, randomized clinical trial involving patients with bulky or multiple LN metastases in cervical cancer IIICr. This study will include patients with a short-axis diameter of a pelvic or para-aortic LN ≥2 cm or ≥3 LNs with a short-axis diameter ≥1 cm and for whom CCRT is planned. The treatment arms will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either receive CCRT (control arm) or undergo surgical debulking of bulky or multiple LNs before CCRT (experimental arm). CCRT consists of extended-field external beam radiotherapy/pelvic radiotherapy, brachytherapy and LN boost, and weekly chemotherapy with cisplatin (40 mg/m²), 4-6 times administered intravenously. The primary endpoint will be 3-year progression-free survival rate. The secondary endpoints will be 3-year overall survival rate, treatment-related complications, and accuracy of radiological diagnosis of bulky or multiple LNs. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05421650; Clinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT0007137.