Leuprolide acetate in advanced ovarian serous tumor of low malignant potential. A case report.

BACKGROUND

Patients with advanced ovarian tumors of low malignant potential have no defined systemic therapy. Leuprolide acetate and other gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues have definitive activity in ovarian epithelial carcinomas. On the basis of these considerations, we used leuprolide acetate to treat a young woman with an advanced ovarian tumor of low malignant potential.

CASE

In a case of a long-term survivor of high-risk advanced-stage ovarian serous tumor of low malignant potential, suboptimal primary cytoreductive surgery was performed; at that time it was found that the tumor had directly invaded the outer uterine wall and rectosigmoid colon serosa and had metastasized to the pelvic lymph nodes. Postoperative adjunctive hormonal treatment with leuprolide acetate was administered and resulted in a complete clinical and serologic response. The patient remained disease free 68 months after the initial diagnosis. Her only symptoms were minimal hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

CONCLUSION

Leuprolide acetate may be active in the treatment of ovarian tumors of low malignant potential. It should be considered frontline systemic therapy for this disease.