Effect of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy on prognosis of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate prognostic factors which have an influence on overall survival and to assess the rational application of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

METHODS

The data of 131 patients treated between January 1990 and December 1998 in Union Hospital and Tongji Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and comparisons were performed using Log-rank test. Independent prognostic factors were identified by the Cox proportional hazards regression model.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis showed that age, general conditions, menopausal status, stage, pathological types, location of the tumor, residual tumor and retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy were prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis showed that age, stage, residual tumor, retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy and the number of courses of chemotherapy were the most important prognostic factors. The survival rate could not be improved through retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in the patients in early stage, advanced stage with residual tumor > 2 cm or those with mucinous adenocarcinoma (P > 0.05). Among patients in advanced stage cancer with a residual tumor </= 2 cm, 5-year survival was 65% and 30% for patients who did and did not undergo lymphadenectomy, respectively (P < 0.01). Among patients with serous adenocarcinoma, 5-year survival was 61% and 31% for patients who did and did not undergo lymphadenectomy, respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis of the patients with epithelial ovarian cancer may be influenced by age, stage, residual tumor, retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy and the number of courses of chemotherapy. Although retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy could improve the survival rate, it should be carried out selectively.