Pure-type clear cell carcinoma of the ovary as a distinct histological type and improved survival in patients treated with paclitaxel-platinum-based chemotherapy in pure-type advanced disease.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to compare survival in pure and mixed-type advanced clear cell ovarian carcinoma and to determine the benefits among patients with pure advanced clear cell ovarian carcinoma treated in paclitaxel-platinum-based chemotherapy in comparison with those treated in conventional platinum-based chemotherapy after primary surgery.

METHODS

Between 1994 and 2001, 31 women with stage III and IV pure clear cell ovarian carcinoma and nine patients with stage III and IV mixed-type clear cell carcinoma were identified from the tumor registry of six institutions. All patients underwent cytoreductive surgery followed by conventional platinum-based chemotherapy or paclitaxel and platinum-based chemotherapy.

RESULTS

The median survival of women with pure clear cell carcinoma was 11 months, compared to 48+ months for those with mixed-type clear cell carcinoma (P = 0.003). Overall, for women with pure clear cell carcinoma, 35% had clinically complete responses to chemotherapy. For women with pure clear cell carcinoma treated with paclitaxel-platinum-based chemotherapy, the median survival was significantly longer than for those treated with conventional platinum-based chemotherapy (16.26 vs. 10.75 months, P = 0.045; with optimal cytoreduction, 40.95 vs. 9.02 months, P = 0.028). Univariate analysis showed paclitaxel-platinum-based treatment was the only favorable prognostic factor for women with advanced pure clear cell ovarian carcinoma (P = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with advanced pure clear cell ovarian carcinoma have poorer prognoses than those with the mixed type. Paclitaxel-platinum-based chemotherapy improved survival among our patients with advanced pure clear cell carcinoma, especially for those with optimal cytoreduction.