Prognostic predictors in recurrent adult granulosa cell tumors of the ovary: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Ovarian adult granulosa cell tumours are low-grade malignant sex cord-stromal neoplasm with a low recurrence rate. Prognostic factors for recurrence include tumor stage, tumor rupture in Stage I neoplasms and the presence of residual tumors after surgery. However, in recurrent tumors, prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) are lacking. In the present paper, we conducted a systematic meta-analysis with the aim to assess prognostic factors for OS in patients with recurrent GCT.

METHODS

Electronic databases were searched for all studies assessing prognostic factors in recurrent adult granulosa cell tumor of the ovary. Student T test, Fisher's exact test and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with long-rank test were used to assess differences among groups; a p value < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Eleven studies analyzing 102 recurrent tumors were included in the systematic review. Tumor stage and localization of recurrent tumors were significantly associated with OS on Kaplan-Meier analysis; Cox regression analysis showed a HR of 0.879 for the stage II, of 3.052 for the stage III, and of 2.734 for stage IV tumor was significantly associated with OS (p = 0.037); observed HRs for abdominal and thoracic locations were of 2.405 and of 4.024, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the present article emphasizes the prognostic significance of tumor stage > II and extrapelvic anatomic sites of recurrences in patients with recurrent granuolase cell tumors of the ovary.