Clinical outcomes of patients with endometrioid epithelial ovarian cancer following surgical treatment.

BACKGROUND: Endometrioid epithelial ovarian cancer (EEOC) is rare, and its management poorly defined. We examined factors associated with 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) after surgery for EEOC. METHODS: Retrospective study: treatment and outcomes of all EEOC patients undergoing initial surgery at, or presenting to, our institution within 3 months of initial surgery, 1/2002-9/2017. RESULTS: In total, 212 patients were identified. Median follow-up, 63.9 months (range, 0.7-192); median age at diagnosis, 52 years (range, 20-88); disease stage: I, n = 145 (68%); II, n = 47 (22%); III/IV, n = 20 (9%); FIGO grade: 1, 127 (60%); 2, 66 (31%); 3, 17 (8%); unknown, 2 (1%). One hundred twenty-eight (60%) had endometriosis; 75 (35%), synchronous endometrioid endometrial cancer (80%, IA); 101 (48%), complete surgical staging; 8 (5%), positive pelvic lymph nodes (LNs); 6 (4%), positive para-aortic LNs; 176 (97%), complete gross resection; 123 (60%), postoperative chemotherapy; 56(28%), no additional treatment. Five-year PFS, 83% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 76.6%-87.8%); 5-year overall survival (OS), 92.7% (95% CI: 87.7%-95.8%). Age, stage, and surgical staging were associated with improved 5-year PFS, and younger age at diagnosis with improved 5-year OS (p < 0.001). Chemotherapy did not improve 5-year PFS in IA/IB versus observation, but improved survival in IC (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.22-4.59, p = 0.99; HR: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.04-0.7, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Age, stage, and full surgical staging were associated with improved 5-year PFS. Chemotherapy showed no benefit in IA/IB disease.

Robotic Surgery in the Frail Elderly: Analysis of Perioperative Outcomes.

PURPOSE: The frail are considered at higher risk for unfavorable surgical outcomes (major complications/mortality). We assessed the safety of and outcomes associated with robotic surgery in the frail elderly undergoing gynecologic procedures. METHODS: We identified patients aged ≥ 65 years who underwent a robotic procedure between May 2007 and December 2016. Frailty was defined as the presence of at least three of five frailty factors-more than five comorbidities, low physical activity, weight loss, exhaustion, and fatigue. Perioperative outcomes were recorded. We compared variables among frail and non-frail patients and performed a multivariate logistic regression to detect variables associated with major complications (≥ grade 3) or 90-day mortality. RESULTS: We identified 982 patients: 71 frail and 911 non-frail patients. Median age was 71 years. Median BMI was 29.8 kg/m2. Thirty-four patients (3.5%) had a 30-day readmission. Seventy-seven (7.8%) had a postoperative complication, of which 23 (2.3%) were major. Ninety-day mortality was 0.5%. There were significant differences with regard to age (P < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001) and performance status (P < 0.001); the frail were more likely to have had surgery for oncologic reasons (P = 0.047). There were differences in hospital stay (P < 0.001), postoperative (P = 0.042) and major complications (P = 0.007), and 90-day mortality (P = 0.05). At multivariable logistic regression, age ≥ 85 was associated with major complications. BMI, performance status, and major complications were associated with 90-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The frail elderly have longer hospital stays and more complications after surgery than the general population, consistent with the reported literature. Careful selection of surgical candidates is required.

Is Robotic-Assisted Surgery Safe in the Elderly Population? An Analysis of Gynecologic Procedures in Patients ≥ 65 Years Old.

BACKGROUND: The elderly population is expanding worldwide but is underrepresented in clinical trials. We sought to assess the safety of robotic gynecologic surgery in an elderly cohort and to identify factors associated with unfavorable outcomes. METHODS: All patients ≥ 65 years who underwent a robotically assisted procedure at a single institution between May 2007 to December 2016 were divided into three age groups: 65-74 (Group 1); 75-84 (Group 2); ≥ 85 (Group 3). Perioperative outcomes were recorded in patients who did not require conversion to laparotomy. We compared clinical variables among groups and performed multivariate logistic regression to detect variables associated with major complications (≥ Grade 3) or 90-day mortality. RESULTS: We retrospectively identified 982 cases: 685 in Group 1; 249 in Group 2; 48 in Group 3. Median age = 71 years. Median BMI = 28.9. Malignancy was documented in 72.8% of cases; the majority were endometrial cancer (61.8%). Thirty-four patients (3.5%) were readmitted within 30 days. Seventy-seven (7.8%) had a postoperative complication, and 23 (2.3%) had a major complication. Ninety-day mortality was 0.5%. There was significant difference between groups with respect to body mass index (P = 0.026), ECOG PS (P ≤ 0.001), > 5 comorbidities (P = 0.005), hospital stay (P < 0.001), major complications (P = 0.001), and 90-day mortality (P < 0.001). On multivariable logistic regression, age ≥ 85 years was associated with major complications. Body mass index, age ≥ 85 years, and major complications were significantly associated with 90-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic-assisted surgery appears to be safe in an elderly cohort. The incidence of overall and major complications is consistent with those reported in the literature. Patients ≥ 85 years old appear to be at higher risk of unfavorable outcomes.

Molecular profiling and molecular classification of endometrioid ovarian carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: Endometrioid ovarian carcinomas (EOCs) comprise 5-10% of all ovarian cancers and commonly co-occur with synchronous endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC). We sought to examine the molecular characteristics of pure EOCs in patients without concomitant EEC. METHODS: EOCs and matched normal samples were subjected to massively parallel sequencing targeting 341-468 cancer-related genes (n = 8) or whole-genome sequencing (n = 28). Mutational frequencies of EOCs were compared to those of high-grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOCs; n = 224) and EECs (n = 186) from The Cancer Genome Atlas, and synchronous EOCs (n = 23). RESULTS: EOCs were heterogeneous, frequently harboring KRAS, PIK3CA, PTEN, CTNNB1, ARID1A and TP53 mutations. EOCs were distinct from HGSOCs at the mutational level, less frequently harboring TP53 but more frequently displaying KRAS, PIK3CA, PIK3R1, PTEN and CTNNB1 mutations. Compared to synchronous EOCs and pure EECs, pure EOCs less frequently harbored PTEN, PIK3R1 and ARID1A mutations. Akin to EECs, EOCs could be stratified into the four molecular subtypes: 3% POLE (ultramutated), 19% MSI (hypermutated), 17% copy-number high (serous-like) and 61% copy-number low (endometrioid). In addition to microsatellite instability, a subset of EOCs harbored potentially targetable mutations, including AKT1 and ERBB2 hotspot mutations. EOCs of MSI (hypermutated) subtype uniformly displayed a good outcome. CONCLUSIONS: EOCs are heterogeneous at the genomic level and harbor targetable genetic alterations. Despite the similarities in the repertoire of somatic mutations between pure EOCs, synchronous EOCs and EECs, the frequencies of mutations affecting known driver genes differ. Further studies are required to define the impact of the molecular subtypes on the outcome and treatment of EOC patients.

Less versus more radical surgery in stage IB1 cervical cancer: A population-based study of long-term survival.

BACKGROUND: Standard surgical treatment for women with stage IB1 cervical cancer consists of radical hysterectomy. This study assesses survival outcomes of those treated with less radical surgery (LRS; conization, trachelectomy, simple hysterectomy) compared to more radical surgery (MRS; modified radical, radical hysterectomy). METHODS: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database, we identified women <45 years with FIGO stage IB1 cervical cancer diagnosed from 1/1998 to 12/2012. Only those who underwent lymph node (LN) assessment were analyzed. Disease-specific survivals (DSSs) of LRS were compared with those of MRS. RESULTS: Of 2571 patients, 807 underwent LRS and 1764 underwent MRS, all with LN assessment. For LRS vs. MRS, 28% vs. 23% were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma (p = 0.024), 31% vs. 39% had G3 disease (p < 0.001), 40% vs. 45% had tumor size >2 cm (p < 0.001), and 27% vs. 29% received adjuvant radiation therapy (p = 0.005). Median follow-up was 79 months (range, 0-179). Ten-year DSS for LRS vs. MRS was 93.5% vs. 92.3% (p = 0.511). There was no difference in 10-year DSS when stratified by tumor size ≤2 cm (LRS 95.1% vs. MRS 95.6%, p = 0.80) or > 2 cm (LRS 90.1% vs. MRS 88.2%, p = 0.48). Factors independently associated with increased risk of death included adenosquamous histology (HR 2.37), G3 disease (HR 2.86), tumors >2 cm (HR 1.82), and LN positivity (HR 2.42). Compared to MRS, LRS was not associated with a higher risk of death. CONCLUSIONS: In a select group of young women with stage IB1 cervical cancer, LRS compared to MRS does not appear to compromise DSS.

Patterns of FIRST recurrence of stage IIIC1 endometrial cancer with no PARAAORTIC nodal assessment.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the rates and distribution of first recurrence in patients with FIGO stage IIIC1 endometrial cancer (EC) who did not undergo paraaortic dissection at surgical staging. METHODS: We retrospectively selected all (n = 207) stage IIIC1 patients treated at a single institution from 5/1993-1/2017. Sites of first recurrence were identified, disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) calculated, multivariate logistic regression performed to identify factors associated with recurrence. RESULTS: Three-year DFS and OS were 66.5% and 85.7%, respectively. The most common histology was endometroid (64.2%). Three-year DFS was 81% (SE±3.8%) endometrioid vs. 39.5% (SE±6.6%) non-endometrioid (P < 0.001). Three-year OS was 96.9% (SE±1.8%) endometrioid vs. 65.6% (SE±6.7%) non-endometrioid (P < 0.001). Sixty-two (30.1%) patients recurred. Patterns of recurrence were: 14 (8.3%) multiple sites, 17 (8.2%) abdominal, 14 (6.8%) extra-abdominal, 17 (8.3%) isolated nodal (8 of these (3.9%) paraaortic). Patients with isolated tumor cells (ITCs) in lymph nodes only had 12/71 (17%) recurrence rate vs. 50/135 (37%) for patients with micro-/macrometastasis. On univariate analysis, grade (HR 4.67 95%CI 1.5-14.5, P = 0.008), histology (HR 4.9 95%CI 2.6-9.3, P < 0.001), myometrial invasion (HR 1.9 95%CI 1.04-3.5, P = 0.04), pelvic washing (HR 2.2 95%CI 1.1-4.5, P = 0.03), tumor volume in pelvic LNs (ITC vs. micro-/macrometastasis; HR 0.3 95%CI 0.2-0.7, P = 0.003) were associated with recurrence. On multivariate analysis, only histology was associated with recurrence (HR 7.88 95%CI 3.43-18.13, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Isolated paraaortic recurrence in stage IIIC1 EC is uncommon. Micro-/macrometastasis were associated with twice the recurrence rate compared to ITC. These data will help clinicians counsel patients with stage IIIC1 EC regarding paraaortic assessment.

Perioperative epidural use and survival outcomes in patients undergoing primary debulking surgery for advanced ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Epidurals are associated with improved outcomes in some solid tumors, presumably due to their effect on surgical stress response. There are limited data on the prognostic significance of epidural anesthesia in patients undergoing primary debulking surgery (PDS) for advanced ovarian cancer. We sought to assess the impact of epidural anesthesia on the survival outcomes of patients undergoing PDS for advanced ovarian cancer. METHODS: In this retrospective study, consecutive patients with stage IIIB-IV epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal carcinoma who underwent PDS at our institution from 01/2005-12/2013 were identified. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) with regard to epidural use were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 648 patients, 435 received an epidural and 213 did not. Patients in the former group were more likely to have higher stage disease (stage IV disease, 26% vs. 16%, respectively; P = .005), carcinomatosis (87% vs. 80%, respectively; P = .027), and bulky upper abdominal disease (66% vs. 58%, respectively; P = .046). Complete gross resection was achieved in 48% and 32%, respectively (P < .001). For the epidural vs. non-epidural groups, median PFS was 20.8 months and 13.9 months, respectively (P = .021); median OS was 62.4 months and 41.9 months, respectively (P < .001). After controlling for confounding factors, including residual disease, epidural use was independently associated with a decreased risk of progression (HR = 1.327; 95% CI, 1.066-1.653) and death (HR = 1.588; 95% CI, 1.224-2.06). CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative epidural use was independently associated with improved PFS and OS in these patients. Epidural anesthesia at the time of PDS may be warranted in this setting.

Continuous improvement in primary Debulking surgery for advanced ovarian cancer: Do increased complete gross resection rates independently lead to increased progression-free and overall survival?

OBJECTIVES: To assess complete gross resection (CGR) rates and survival outcomes in patients with advanced ovarian cancer who underwent primary debulking surgery (PDS) during a 13-year period in which specific changes to surgical paradigm were implemented. METHODS: We identified all patients with stage IIIB-IV high-grade ovarian carcinoma who underwent PDS at our institution, with the intent of maximal cytoreduction, from 1/2001-12/2013. Patients were categorized by year of PDS based on the implementation of surgical changes to our approach to ovarian cancer debulking (Group 1, 2001-2005; Group 2, 2006-2009; Group 3, 2010-2013). RESULTS: Among 978 patients, 78% had stage IIIC disease and 89% had disease of serous histology. Carcinomatosis was found in 81%, and 60% had bulky upper abdominal disease (UAD). Compared to Group 1, those who underwent PDS during the latter 2 time periods had higher ASA scores (p < 0.001), higher-stage disease (p < 0.001), and more often had carcinomatosis (p = 0.015) and bulky UAD (p = 0.009). CGR rates for Groups 1-3 increased from 29% to 40% to 55%, respectively (p < 0.001). Five-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates increased over time (15%, 16%, and 20%, respectively; p = 0.199), as did 5-year overall survival (OS) rates (40%, 44%, and 56%, respectively; p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, CGR was independently associated with PFS (p < 0.001) and OS (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite higher-stage disease and greater tumor burden, CGR rates, PFS and OS for patients who underwent PDS increased over a 13-year period. Surgical paradigm shifts implemented specifically to achieve more complete surgical cytoreduction are likely the reason for these improvements.

Exploring the impact of income and race on survival for women with advanced ovarian cancer undergoing primary debulking surgery at a high-volume center.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patients with advanced ovarian cancer (OC) undergoing primary debulking surgery (PDS) at a high-volume center (HVC), to determine whether socio-demographic disparities in PDS outcome and overall survival (OS) were present. METHODS: All patients with stages IIIB-IV high-grade OC undergoing PDS at our institution from 1/2001-12/2013 were identified. Patients self-identified race/ethnicity as non-Hispanic White (NHW), non-Hispanic Black (NHB), Asian (A), or Hispanic (H). Income level for the entire cohort was estimated using the census-reported income level for each patient's zip code as a proxy for SES. Main outcome measures were PDS outcome and median OS. Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine differences in OS by racial/ethnic and income category, controlling for selected clinical factors. RESULTS: 963 patients were identified for analysis: 855 NHW; 43 A, 34H, 28 NHB, and 3 unknown. PDS outcome was not significantly different among NHB and H as compared to NHW. Compared to NHW, Asians were more likely to have >1cm residual (AOR 2.32, 95%CI 1.1-4.9, p=0.03). Median income for the entire cohort was $85,814 (range $10,926-$231,667). After adjusting for significant prognostic factors, there were no significant differences in PDS outcome between income groups (p=0.7281). Median OS was 55.1mos (95%CI 51.8-58.5) with no significant differences in OS between the income (p=0.628) or racial/ethnic (p=0.615) groups. CONCLUSION: Statistically significant socio-demographic disparities in PDS and survival outcomes were not observed among women with advanced OC treated at this HVC. Increased efforts are needed to centralize care to and increase the diversity of pts treated at HVCs.

Long-Term Oncologic Outcomes of Uterine-Preserving Surgery in Young Women With Stage Ib1 Cervical Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate oncologic outcomes of women with stage IB1 cervical cancer treated with uterine-preserving surgery (UPS) (defined as conization or trachelectomy) versus non-UPS (defined as hysterectomy of any type). METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was used to identify women younger than 45 years diagnosed with stage IB1 cervical cancer from 1998 to 2012. Only those who underwent lymph node (LN) assessment were included. Outcomes of UPS versus non-UPS were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 2717 patients, 125 were treated with UPS and 2592 were treated with non-UPS. Those in the UPS group were younger (median age 33 vs 37 years, P < 0.001), less commonly had tumor size greater than 2 cm (27% vs 45%, P < 0.001), and less commonly received adjuvant radiation therapy (18% vs 29%, P = 0.006). There was no difference in distribution of tumor grade, histology, or rate of LN positivity. Median follow-up was 79 months (range, 0-179). There was no difference in 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) between the UPS versus non-UPS groups (93% vs 94%, respectively, P = 0.755). When stratified by tumor size, DSS for UPS versus non-UPS was as follows: tumors 2 cm or less, 96.8% versus 96.3% (P = 0.683); tumors greater than 2 cm, 82.4% versus 90.4% (P = 0.112). Factors independently associated with worsened survival included adenosquamous histology (hazard ratio [HR] 2.29, 95% confidence interval [CI]1.51-3.47), G3 disease (HR 2.44, 95% CI 1.01-5.89), tumor size greater than 2 cm (HR 1.93, 95% CI 1.36-2.75) and LN positivity (HR 2.29, 95% CI 1.64-3.22). The UPS was not associated with a higher risk of death. CONCLUSIONS: The UPS does not seem to compromise oncologic outcomes in a select group of young women with stage IB1 cervical cancer, especially in the setting of tumors 2 cm or less. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of UPS in tumors greater than 2 cm.

Compliance with research standards within gynecologic oncology fellowship: A Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Research Network (GOFRN) study.

OBJECTIVES: Participation in clinical and basic science research is emphasized in gynecologic oncology training. We sought to identify trends in adherence to expected research practices and reasons for non-adherence among gynecologic oncology fellows. METHODS: An anonymous 31-question online survey assessing academic behaviors, including IRB compliance, authorship assignment, data sharing, and potential barriers to non-adherence was distributed to all SGO gynecologic oncology fellow members in July 2016. Descriptive statistics and univariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of 190 members, 35.3% (n=67) responded. 73% (n=49) of respondents reported personal non-compliance and 79.1% (n=53) reported having witnessed others being non-complaint with at least one expected research practice. Areas of compliance failure included changing a research question without appropriate IRB amendment (20%; n=14), conducting research under a nonspecific IRB (13.9%; n=9), and performing research without IRB approval (6.1%; n=4). Longer institutional time for IRB approval was significantly associated with IRB non-adherence (p<0.05). First year fellows were more likely to use a nonspecific IRB (p=0.04) or expand a question without amending the IRB (p=0.04). When asked about storage of protected health information (PHI) for research, 53% reported non-secure storage with 17.1% (n=6) having done so for >1000 patients. Thirty respondents (45.5%) assigned authorship to someone who failed to meet ICMJE criteria and twelve (18.5%) accepted authorship without meeting ICMJE criteria. Most commonly cited reasons for non-adherence were: cumbersome IRB processes (80.3%), pressure from senior authors (78.8%), fear of someone else publishing first, (74.2%) and lack of support navigating appropriate research practices (71.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Fellow non-compliance with expected research practices is high, particularly with regards to secure storage of PHI and appropriate authorship assignment. Time-consuming and cumbersome IRB procedures, perceived pressure from senior authors, and lack of research support contribute to non-adherence. Further support and education of gynecologic oncology fellows is needed in order to help address these barriers.

Feasibility, safety and clinical outcomes of cardiophrenic lymph node resection in advanced ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Surgical resection of enlarged cardiophrenic lymph nodes (CPLNs) in primary treatment of advanced ovarian cancer has not been widely studied. We report on a cohort of patients undergoing CPLN resection during primary cytoreductive surgery (CRS), examining its feasibility, safety, and potential impact on clinical outcomes. METHODS: We identified all patients undergoing primary CRS/CPLN resection for Stages IIIB-IV high-grade epithelial ovarian cancer at our institution from 1/2001-12/2013. Clinical and pathological data were collected. Statistical tests were performed. RESULTS: 54 patients underwent CPLN resection. All had enlarged CPLNs on preoperative imaging. Median diameter of an enlarged CPLN: 1.3cm (range 0.6-2.9). Median patient age: 59y (range 41-74). 48 (88.9%) underwent transdiaphragmatic resection; 6 (11.1%) underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery. A median of 3 nodes (range 1-23) were resected. A median of 2 nodes (range 0-22) were positive for metastasis. 51/54 (94.4%) had positive nodes. 51 (94.4%) had chest tube placement; median time to removal: 4d (range 2-12). 44 (81.4%) had peritoneal carcinomatosis. 19 (35%) experienced major postoperative complications; 4 of these (7%) were surgery-related. Median time to adjuvant chemotherapy: 40d (range 19-205). All patients were optimally cytoreduced, 30 (55.6%) without visible residual disease. Median progression-free survival: 17.2mos (95% CI 12.6-21.8); median overall survival: 70.1mos (95% CI 51.2-89.0). CONCLUSIONS: Enlarged CPLNs can be identified on preoperative imaging and may indicate metastases. Resection can identify extra-abdominal disease, confirm Stage IV disease, obtain optimal cytoreduction. In the proper setting it is feasible, safe, and does not delay chemotherapy. In select patients, it may improve survival.

Concomitant loss of SMARCA2 and SMARCA4 expression in small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type.

Small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type is an aggressive tumor generally affecting young women with limited treatment options. Mutations in SMARCA4, a catalytic subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, have recently been identified in nearly all small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type cases and represent a signature molecular feature for this disease. Additional biological dependencies associated with small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type have not been identified. SMARCA2, another catalytic subunit of the SWI/SNF complex mutually exclusive with SMARCA4, is thought to be post-translationally silenced in various cancer types. We analyzed 10 archival small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type cases for SMARCA2 protein expression by immunohistochemistry and found that SMARCA2 expression was lost in all but one case. None of the 50 other tumors that primarily or secondarily involved the ovary demonstrated concomitant loss of SMARCA2 and SMARCA4. Deep sequencing revealed that this loss of SMARCA2 expression is not the result of mutational inactivation. In addition, we established a small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type patient-derived xenograft and confirmed the loss of SMARCA2 in this in vitro model. This patient-derived xenograft model, established from a recurrent tumor, also had unexpected mutational features for this disease, including functional mutations in TP53 and POLE. Taken together, our data suggest that concomitant loss of SMARCA2 and SMARCA4 is another hallmark of small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type-a finding that offers new opportunities for therapeutic interventions.

Characteristics of 10-year survivors of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: High-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) generally presents at an advanced stage with poor long-term (LT) survival. Here we describe clinical features found in women surviving HGSC for ten or more years. METHODS: A multi-center research consortium was established between five participating academic centers. Patient selection criteria included high-grade serous ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal carcinoma with at least ten years of follow up. Non-serous, borderline tumors and low-grade serous subtypes were excluded. RESULTS: The 203 identified LT ten-year survivors with HGSC were diagnosed at a median age of 57years (range 37-84years). The majority of patients had stage IIIC (72.4%) disease at presentation. Of those who underwent primary cytoreductive surgery, optimal cytoreduction was achieved in 143 (85.6%) patients. After a median follow up of 144months, 88 (46.8%) patients did not develop recurrent disease after initial treatment. Unexpected findings from this survey of LT survivors includes 14% of patients having had suboptimal cytoreduction, 11% of patients having an initial platinum free interval of <12months, and nearly 53% of patients having recurrent disease, yet still surviving more than ten years after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: LT survivors of HGSC of the ovary generally have favorable clinical features including optimal surgical cytoreduction and primary platinum sensitive disease. The majority of patients will develop recurrent disease, however many remained disease free for more than 10years. Future work will compare the clinical features of this unusual cohort of LT survivors with the characteristics of HGSC patients having less favorable outcomes.

Diverting ileostomy during primary debulking surgery for ovarian cancer: Associated factors and postoperative outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the use, as well as postoperative and long-term oncologic outcomes of diverting loop ileostomy (DI) during primary debulking surgery (PDS) for ovarian cancer. METHODS: Patients with stage II-IV ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal carcinoma who underwent colon resection during PDS from 1/2005-1/2014 were identified. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 331 patients, 320 (97%) had stage III/IV disease and 278 (84%) had disease of high-grade serous histology. Forty-four (13%) underwent a DI. There were no significant differences in age, comorbidity index, smoking status, serum albumin, or attending surgeon between the DI and non-DI groups. Operative time (OR=1.21; 95% CI, 1.03-1.42; p=0.02) and length of rectosigmoid resection (OR=1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08; p=0.02) were predictors of DI on multivariable analysis. The overall anastomotic leak rate was 6%. A comparison of groups (DI vs non-DI) showed no significant differences in major complications (30% vs 23%; p=0.41), anastomotic leak rate (5% vs 7%; p=0.60), hospital length of stay (10 vs 9days; p=0.25), readmission rate (23% vs 17%; p=0.33), or interval to postoperative chemotherapy (41 vs 40days; p=0.20), respectively. Ileostomy reversal was successful in 89% of patients. Median follow-up was 52.6months. There were no differences in median progression-free (17.9 vs 18.6months; p=0.88) and overall survival (48.7 vs 63.8months; p=0.25) between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing PDS, those with longer operative time and greater length of rectosigmoid resection more commonly underwent DI. DI does not appear to compromise postoperative outcomes or long-term survival.

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian carcinoma: analysis of 30-day morbidity and mortality.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate morbidity and mortality associated with cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in patients with ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery plus HIPEC from 1 January 2007 to 29 July 2013 at two academic medical centers was performed. Grade 3/4 complications (National Cancer Institute's Common Toxicity Criteria version 4.0) from day of surgery until 30 days postoperatively were recorded. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were identified, with 27 cases of ovarian cancer, three primary peritoneal cancers, and two fallopian tube cancers. Indications included 24 at the time of cancer recurrence, six at interval surgical resection, and two in the consolidative setting. Hyperthermic chemotherapeutic regimens included carboplatin (n = 21), cisplatin (n = 4), oxaliplatin (n = 2), oxaliplatin + intravenous 5-fluorouracil (n = 1), doxorubicin (n = 1), and cisplatin + doxorubicin (n = 1). Infusion time ranged from 30 to 90 min, with a maximum temperature range of 41-43 °C. The combined grade 3/4 morbidity rate was 65.6 %, and the most frequent morbidities included grade 3 anemia (40.6 %), infection (15.6 %), and pleural effusion (12.5 %). Six patients required readmission (18.8 %), and two patients required reoperation (6.2 %). Full-thickness diaphragm resection/peritoneal stripping had a significant association with grade 3/4 pleural effusions (p = 0.0007). CONCLUSIONS: Cytoreductive surgery plus HIPEC is feasible in patients with ovarian cancer with 65.6 % grade 3/4 morbidity and no deaths. Balancing these complications with potential survival benefits is important in centers considering implementing HIPEC protocols.

Lifestyle and Weight Management Counseling in Uterine Cancer Survivors: A Study of the Uterine Cancer Action Network.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences, attitudes, and preferences of uterine cancer survivors with regard to weight and lifestyle counseling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Members of the US Uterine Cancer Action Network of the Foundation for Women's Cancer were invited to complete a 45-item, Web-based survey. Standard descriptive statistical methods and χ tests were used to analyze responses. RESULTS: One hundred eighty (28.3%) uterine cancer survivors completed the survey. Median age was 58 years, 85% were white, and median survivorship period was 4.4 years. Most had stage I-II disease (69%) and were overweight or obese (65%). Eighty-nine percent of respondents received care by a gynecologic oncologist. Increased respondent body mass index was associated with decreased exercise frequency (P = 0.016). Only 50% of respondents underwent any weight/lifestyle counseling, with those living in the West and Southwest reporting the highest rates (70.8% and 69.2%, P = 0.011). Most who received counseling felt that discussions were motivating, performed in a sensitive manner, and did not undermine the patient-physician relationship. Specific recommendations were rarely offered; there were no reported referrals to weight loss programs or bariatric specialists, and few (6%) reported referrals to nutritionists. Respondents (85%) preferred their gynecologic oncologist address weight using direct, face-to-face counseling with specific recommendations regarding interventions and referral to specialists. Finally, self-reported overweight respondents experienced greater success with weight loss compared to those reporting obesity or morbid obesity (30.8% vs 15.8% vs 12.5%, P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Uterine cancer survivors reported high obesity, low activity rates, and a desire for substantive weight loss counseling from their gynecologic oncologists. Respondents suggested that current counseling practices are inadequate and incongruent with their needs. Further research to define optimal timing, interventional strategies, and specific recommendations for successful lifestyle changes in this population is warranted.

High-grade endometrial cancer: revisiting the impact of tumor size and location on outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Research on tumor size (TS) and intracavitary tumor location in endometrial cancer has focused primarily on low-grade tumors. Data in patients with high-grade histology are limited. Our goal is to determine if TS or lower uterine segment (LUS) involvement, is associated with nodal disease and recurrence in women with high-grade endometrial cancer. METHODS: This is an IRB-approved, multi-institutional cohort study of patients with clinically early-stage, high-grade endometrial cancer who underwent comprehensive surgical staging. Records were reviewed for demographic, pathologic, and treatment data. Nodal involvement and recurrence as a function of TS and location were estimated with odds ratios and hazard ratios. RESULTS: From 2005 to 2012, 208 patients were identified. Of these, 188 patients had tumor location and 183 had TS reported. There were 75 endometrioid (36.1%), 35 serous (16.8%), 12 clear cell (5.8%), and 26 carcinosarcoma (12.5%) cases, and 60 (28.8%) undifferentiated or mixed histologies. There were 55 recurrences (median follow up 17.2 mo). LUS tumors were associated with pelvic and para-aortic nodal disease (OR 3.83, 95% CI 1.70-8.60, p<0.01, OR 5.13, 95% CI 1.96-13.45, p<0.01). TS ≥ 2 cm was associated with pelvic nodal disease (27.4% vs. 0%, p=0.01; OR 10.00, p=0.01). Neither TS nor LUS location was independently associated with recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: In high-grade endometrial cancers, tumor involvement of the LUS and TS>2 cm was associated with pelvic nodal disease, and LUS involvement was also significantly associated with para-aortic nodal disease. There was no association between LUS involvement or TS>2 cm and recurrence.

Impact of race and ethnicity on treatment and survival of women with vulvar cancer in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To examine racial/ethnic differences in treatment and survival in women diagnosed with invasive vulvar cancer in the United States. METHODS: Women with invasive vulvar cancer were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from 1/1/92 to 12/31/02. Statistical analysis using Chi-square, Fisher's Exact Test, Kaplan-Meier survival methods, and Cox regression proportional hazards models was performed. RESULTS: Of the 2357 cases of invasive vulvar cancer included in this study, 1974 (83.8%) were non-Hispanic white, 209 (8.9%) were non-Hispanic black, 119 (5.0%) were Hispanic, and 55 (2.3%) women were of another race/ethnicity. After adjustment for stage, black women were half as likely (OR=0.48, 95% CI 0.31-0. 74) to undergo surgery and 1.7 times more likely (OR=1.67, 95% CI 1.18-2.36) to receive radiation than white women. In multivariable analysis, surgical treatment reduced the risk of death from vulvar cancer by 46% (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.43-0.67), whereas radiation was not shown to impact the risk of death (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.84-1.19), after adjusting for age, race, stage, and grade. There was no significant difference in risk of death by race/ethnicity group after adjusting for the previously described variables. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this study, race/ethnicity is not an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in women diagnosed with invasive vulvar cancer, despite differences in treatment modality by race/ethnicity. Further research to define the factors contributing to differences in treatment selection according to race/ethnicity and the resulting impact on quality of life is warranted.