Long-term survival of 106 stage III ovarian cancer patients with minimal residual disease after second-look laparotomy and consolidation radiotherapy.

Objective: Attempts to increase survival in stage III ovarian cancer patients with minimal residual disease at second-look laparotomy have included consolidation radiotherapy. We present long-term survival of 106 consecutive patients treated between 1983 and 1993 in 4 French institutions for stage III ovarian adenocarcinoma with first-look debulking, cisplatin-based chemotherapy, second-look surgery with a residual disease <1 cm and consolidation radiotherapy.

Methods: Median age was 52 years. Residual disease after first look surgery was <1 cm for 40.5% of patients. Median number of chemotherapy cycles was 6 (range 4-12). Residual disease <1 cm at second-look laparotomy was observed in 79% of the patients, with 33% of patients in complete histologic remission. Residual disease <1 cm was obtained in all patients after tumor excision during second-look surgery. Radiation was performed using a linear accelerator with a whole abdomen dose of 22.5 Gy, an additional 22 Gy pelvic boost for 71 patients, and an additional 12 Gy lombo-aortic boost for 33 patients.

Results: Median follow-up was 14 years. Radiation was stopped for acute toxicity in 11 patients. Long-term toxicities included radiation enteritis in 21 patients with 9 patients requiring surgery for bowel obstruction. Four deaths were related to enteritis complications. Overall survival at 5 and 10 years was respectively 53% and 36%.

Conclusion: This sequential treatment with final consolidation abdominopelvic radiotherapy is an effective treatment for a selected group of stage III ovarian cancer patients with a high intestinal toxicity incidence.