ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIM: The presence of ascites in ovarian cancer patients is considered a negative prognostic factor. The underlying mechanisms are not clearly understood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The amount of ascites was evaluated, preferably, using diffusion-weighted MRI at primary diagnosis in a retrospective cohort of 214 women with ovarian cancer, in an ordinal manner (amount of ascites: none, limited, moderate, abundant). In a prospective cohort comprising 45 women with ovarian cancer, IL-10 (interleukin), VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), TGF-ß (transforming growth factor) and CCL-2 [chemokine (C-C) motif ligand 2] were measured at diagnosis (and at interval debulking, when available). RESULTS: Gradually increasing amounts of ascites were correlated significantly, even after correction for FIGO stage, with reduced survival (p<0.0001) and stronger immunosuppression (IL10 and VEGF). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy reduced immunosuppression, which was observed as a reduction in CCL-2, IL-10 and VEGF. CONCLUSION: The amount of ascites is an independent predictor of survival and correlates with increased immunosuppression.