RESUMO
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study is to compare the distribution of anatomic sites of first recurrence in African American (AA) patients with ovarian carcinoma compared to Caucasians. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with high-grade epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or peritoneal carcinoma from 2007 to 2013 were identified. Patterns of recurrence were compared for AA and Caucasian patients. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared. RESULTS: A total of 238 patients were included - 210 Caucasians and 28 AAs. At a follow-up time of 28 months, AAs were more likely to have multiple anatomic sites of recurrence rather than a single site when compared to Caucasians (63.6 vs. 35.5%, p = 0.01). Time to first recurrence was shorter for AA patients (12 vs. 18 months, p < 0.01). PFS and OS did not differ. AA patients with multiple sites of first recurrence had a significantly shorter OS than Caucasian patients with multiple sites of first recurrence (24 vs. 30 months, p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Patterns of first recurrence differ between AAs and Caucasians. AAs have shorter times to first recurrence and are more likely to have multiple anatomic sites involved. AA patients with multiple sites of recurrence have a shorter OS than Caucasian patients with multiple sites.