[Clinical studies on malignant ovarian tumor--with special reference to therapy and prognosis of epithelial ovarian tumor].

Two hundred and ninety-two (75%) patients with common "epithelial" tumors of 391 patients with various kinds of malignant ovarian tumors treated at our hospital and other 14 hospitals between 1971 and 1981 were evaluated particularly to determine 1) the prognostic value of the disease stage and 2) results of therapy. Of the 292 patients, 49.8% were classified in Stage I, 12.8% in Stage II, 27.2% in Stage III and 10.1% in Stage IV. The 5-year survival rates for the various stages were: Stage I, 70.2%; Stage II, 50. 0%; Stage III, 3.4%; and Stage IV, 0%. Postoperative chemotherapy was given to 56.9% of the patients. The prognosis of patients with Stage Ia or Ic who received adjuvant chemotherapy improved, as compared to those who were treated with surgery alone. However, the role of chemotherapy in advanced stages (Stage III and IV) remains unclear.