Authors' objectives:

The aim of this report was to assess the scientific evidence on the clinical effect of four main treatment options in the primary treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer: i) adjuvant chemotherapy and/or adjuvant radiotherapy, ii) cytoreductive surgery, iii) neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced disease, and iv) postoperative chemotherapy in advanced disease.

Authors' recommendations: - Current data are inconclusive regarding the effect of adjuvant therapy. - Several large retrospective studies consistently identify the size of the largest residual disease after primary cytoreductive surgery as an independent determinant of prognosis, thus, the effect of cytoreductive surgery is only indirectly documented. - The effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer is uncertain. - The effect of non-platinum chemotherapy regimens after primary surgery in advanced ovarian cancer is not documented. Available documentation shows significant difference in survival favouring the use of platinum agents in combination chemotherapy. Addition of paclitaxel to platinum further improves survival. Today, carboplatin plus paclitaxel is standard first-line therapy. This systematic review demonstrates the need for more clinical studies on survival outcomes for all treatment methods of primary epithelial ovarian cancer.

Authors' methods: Systematic review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.nokc.no/

Year Published: 2003

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Norway

Organisation Name: Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Contact Address: Universitetsgata 2, Postbox 7004 St. Olavs plass, NO-0310 Oslo NORWAY. Tel: +47 23 25 50 00; Fax: +47 23 25 50 10;

Contact Name: Berit.Morland@nokc.no, dagny.fredheim@nokc.no

Contact Email: Berit.Morland@nokc.no, dagny.fredheim@nokc.no

Copyright: The Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services