OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare the rates of nodal involvement in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in patients who underwent initial lymphadenectomy (before chemotherapy/group 1) and patients who underwent lymphadenectomy after chemotherapy (during interval debulking surgery/group 2 or second-look surgery/group 3). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The rates of nodal involvement in 205 patients with EOC who underwent complete pelvic and paraaortic lympadenectomy were compared. One hundred and five patients underwent this surgical procedure at the end of chemotherapy (group 3) or during chemotherapy (group 2) for 28 patients (with three courses of a platinum-based regimen containing paclitaxel) and were compared to 100 patients who underwent initial lymphadenectomy (group 1). RESULTS: In patients with stage I and II disease the rate of nodal involvement in group 1 and 3 were similar (respectively 19% vs. 21% and 50% vs. 33% in stage I or II disease-NS). In patients with stage III disease, the rates of nodal involvement in patients treated with initial surgery, interval debulking surgery (with paclitaxel-based regimen) and second-look surgery were respectively: 53%, 58% and 48% (NS). Adding to the platinum-based regimen does not seem to improve node sterilization rates. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The rates of nodal involvement seem to be similar in patients treated before or after chemotherapy but the comparison of groups is difficult because the presence of several bias (particularly in early stage disease). Such results suggest that nodal metastases are not totally sterilized by chemotherapy. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the therapeutic value of lymphadenectomy in patients with nodal involvement.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare the rates of nodal involvement in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in patients who underwent initial lymphadenectomy (before chemotherapy/group 1) and patients who underwent lymphadenectomy after chemotherapy (during interval debulking surgery/group 2 or second-look surgery/group 3). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The rates of nodal involvement in 205 patients with EOC who underwent complete pelvic and paraaortic lympadenectomy were compared. One hundred and five patients underwent this surgical procedure at the end of chemotherapy (group 3) or during chemotherapy (group 2) for 28 patients (with three courses of a platinum-based regimen containing paclitaxel) and were compared to 100 patients who underwent initial lymphadenectomy (group 1). RESULTS: In patients with stage I and II disease the rate of nodal involvement in group 1 and 3 were similar (respectively 19% vs. 21% and 50% vs. 33% in stage I or II disease-NS). In patients with stage III disease, the rates of nodal involvement in patients treated with initial surgery, interval debulking surgery (with paclitaxel-based regimen) and second-look surgery were respectively: 53%, 58% and 48% (NS). Adding to the platinum-based regimen does not seem to improve node sterilization rates. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The rates of nodal involvement seem to be similar in patients treated before or after chemotherapy but the comparison of groups is difficult because the presence of several bias (particularly in early stage disease). Such results suggest that nodalmetastases are not totally sterilized by chemotherapy. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the therapeutic value of lymphadenectomy in patients with nodal involvement.