Interval Debulking Surgery After Neodjuvant Chemotherapy Vs Primary Debulking Surgery For Stage Iii Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma

Introduction: Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy and is the fifth most common cause of cancer-related death among women. Approach to FIGO stage III epithelial ovarian cancer remains challengeable. This study aims to evaluate the outcome of interval debulking surgery (IDS) vs. primary debulking surgery (PDS) for FIGO stage III epithelial ovarian cancer. Materials and Methods: During a period of six years (January 2014 to December 2019), we analyzed the patients for eligibility criteria, which were: (1) FIGO stage III epithelial ovarian cancer. (2) The age of 18 years or more (3) Patients underwent either PDS or IDS and received chemotherapy at South Egypt Cancer Institute. We divided them into two groups: (1) Those received three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and then underwent IDS plus three additional cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy and (2) Those who have PDS followed by six cycles of chemotherapy. Results: This study includes 380 eligible patients. The first group included 226 patients (59.47%) underwent PDS then 6 cycles of chemotherapy, while the group of IDS included 154 patients (40.53%). The treatment modality was not significant for overall survival (OS); however disease-free survival (DFS) was significantly reduced after IDS when compared to PDS (median DFS: 33 months; 95% CI 30.23-35.77 vs. 45 months; 95% CI 41.25-48.75 respectively; p= .000). Moreover, in subgroup analysis, OS and DFS were significantly dropped after IDS in elderly patients, patients with bad performance status, sub-optimal cytoreduction as well as high grade and undifferentiated tumors when compared to those who underwent PDS. Conclusion: Although treatment modality may not impact overall survival (OS), however, PDS results in a better disease-free survival than IDS. Moreover, IDS results in a significant drop in OS and DFS in special patients subgroups when compared to PDS. Therefore patients selection should be considered.