Carcinoma of the ovary in stage III. Effects of postoperative chemotherapy, radiation therapy and repeat laparotomy.

A prospective randomized trial was carried out in 153 patients with stage III malignant epithelial tumours for comparing the effects of irradiation or combination of chemotherapy and irradiation on prognosis and operability. No significant differences between these two treatment modalities were found. Of the patients primarily considered inoperable were 41 per cent operated upon after preoperative treatment. Minimum residual disease (0 to less than or equal to 2 cm) occurred in 38 per cent of the primarily operated and in 31 per cent of those operated upon after preoperative treatment. Preoperative irradiation in primarily inoperable patients enabled more effective surgical measures at relaparotomy. The size of the residual tumour after surgery and the tumor grade influenced the survival.