Relapse and duration of survival in patients with serous ovarian cancer

Introduction: In patients with ovarian cancer the 5-year survival rate does not exceed 30-40%. The most common histology of the neoplasm is primary serous ovarian cancer.

Aim of study: To assess the survival in patients with relapsed serous ovarian cancer.

Material and methods: The retrospective study conducted in the group of 37 patients aged 25-83 years-old with the relapse of serous ovarian cancer. The follow-up period was 2-71 months (median 20.8 ±17.8). The disease free survival, survival after relapse and overall survival were analyzed. The age, radicality of surgery and staging were analyzed as additional factors.

Results: The disease free survival, survival after relapse and overall survival were: 1–68 months (median 13.6 ±14.8), 0,5-47 months (median 7.2 ±9.5), and 2-71 months (median 20.8 ±17.8) respectively. The correlation between age at diagnosis and both disease free survival and overall survival was observed. The survival after relapse was not connected to the age, radicality of surgery and staging.

Conclusions: The prognosis after relapse in ovarian cancer patients is generally poor. The age at diagnosis can be analyzed as additional predictor of survival in patients with serous ovarian cancer. The survival after relapse in ovarian cancer patients is not dependent from the age, radicality of surgery and staging.