Residual Microscopic Peritoneal Metastases after Macroscopic Complete Cytoreductive Surgery for Advanced High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma: A Target for Folate Receptor Targeted Photodynamic Therapy?

Despite conventional treatment combining complete macroscopic cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and systemic chemotherapy, residual microscopic peritoneal metastases (mPM) may persist as the cause of peritoneal recurrence in 60% of patients. Therefore, there is a real need to specifically target these mPM to definitively eradicate any traces of the disease and improve patient survival. Therapeutic targeting method, such as photodynamic therapy, would be a promising method for such a purpose.

Microscopic Peritoneal Residual Disease after Complete Macroscopic Cytoreductive Surgery for Advanced High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer.

Background: Epithelial ovarian cancers (EOC) are usually diagnosed at an advanced stage and managed by complete macroscopic cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and systemic chemotherapy. Peritoneal recurrence occurs in 60% of patients and may be due to microscopic peritoneal metastases (mPM) which are neither eradicated by surgery nor controlled by systemic chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to assess and quantify the prevalence of residual mPM after complete macroscopic CRS in patients with advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC).