Pre-operative serum level of tumour-associated trypsin inhibitor and residual tumour size as prognostic indicators in Stage III epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the use of the pre-operative tumour-associated trypsin inhibitor (TATI) level and residual tumour size at primary surgery as a prognostic indicators for patients with Stage III epithelial ovarian cancer.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

PARTICIPANTS

Ninety-eight women with Stage III ovarian cancer.

METHODS

TATI was measured by radioimmunoassay from serum samples obtained within one week before surgery. A cutoff value of 22 microg/L was used. Multivariate analysis included pre-operative TATI level, age, histologic grade and histologic type. Mantel-Cox test was used for calculating statistical significance of differences in survival between groups.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Cumulative five-year survival, pre-operative serum TATI level and residual tumour size.

RESULTS

Surgery was optimal (residual tumour size < or = 2 cm) in 55 patients and suboptimal (residual tumour size > 2 cm) in 43. Pre-operative TATI level < or = 22 microg/L predicted better prognosis both in patients with optimal and suboptimal surgery compared with patients with pre-operative TATI level > 22 microg/L. Patients with optimal surgery and a pre-operative TATI > 22 microg/L had a twofold relative risk of death compared with those with a pre-operative TATI < or = 22 microg/L. The cumulative survival was less than three years for patients with suboptimal surgery and pre-operative TATI > 22 microg/L.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-operative serum TATI in combination with residual tumour size may be useful in stratifying patients with Stage III ovarian cancer into different categories in randomised treatment trials.