MUCINOUS OVARIAN CANCER

Ann Oncol. 2010 May 21. [Epub ahead of print]
Mucinous advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma: clinical presentation and sensitivity to platinum-paclitaxel-based chemotherapy, the GINECO experience.
Alexandre J, Ray-Coquard I, Selle F, Floquet A, Cottu P, Weber B, Falandry C, Lebrun D, Pujade-Lauraine E; for the GINECO.

Medical Oncology Unit, Université Paris-Descartes, Hôtel-Dieu, Paris.
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Advanced mucinous epithelial ovarian carcinoma (mEOC) has been associated with a worse prognosis than the more common serous epithelial ovarian carcinomas (sEOC), but it remains unclear whether this observation reflects a more aggressive clinical presentation and/or chemoresistance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from four randomized phase III and one phase II advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) first-line clinical trials were retrospectively collected, yielding 1118 patients with advanced EOC (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages IIB-IV), 85% of whom were treated with paclitaxel (Taxol)-carboplatin-based chemotherapy. RESULTS: Based on 786 patients with sEOC and 54 (5%) with mEOC, peritoneal carcinomatosis were more limited in mEOC, which was more frequently stages IIB-IIIB (32% versus 19%, P = 0.001) and had more frequently macroscopic complete resection after initial surgery (50% of stages II-III versus 30%, P = 0.02). In contrast, visceral metastases (stage IV) were more frequent in mEOC (30% versus 15%, P = 0.004). mEOC had a lower response rate to carboplatin-paclitaxel, and shorter progression-free and overall survival rates, for both stage IV and optimally debulked stages II-III patients. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced mEOC appears to be highly chemoresistant and complete resection of peritoneal metastases is unable to reverse its poor prognosis. New therapeutic options are needed.