Multimodal approach to the treatment of stage III ovarian carcinoma: preliminary report of a pilot study and critical review.

In an attempt to improve survival rates in Stage III, grade III-IV ovarian carcinoma (5 years survival rate less than 10%), we have tested the feasibility of a combined modality approach in 10 patients. Five of the 10 patients have been treated with surgery, chemotherapy, second look laparotomy, whole abdominopelvic irradiation and chemotherapy. Three patients are alive without evidence of disease (range 24 to 54 months) after entering the combined programme. We conclude that a combined modality therapy can be safely delivered. The acute toxic effects were not more frequent or more severe than with other therapeutic approaches. These results are compared with published reports in the literature.