Surveillance for the Detection of Recurrent Ovarian Cancer: Survival Impact or Lead-time Bias?

Objective: To compare the survival impact of diagnosing recurrent disease by routine surveillance testing versus clinical symptomatology in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) who have achieved a complete response following primary therapy.

Methods: We identified all patients who underwent primary surgery for EOC at two institutions between 1/1997 and 12/2004 and were diagnosed with recurrent disease following a complete clinical response to primary chemotherapy. Survival and post-recurrence management were compared between asymptomatic patients in which recurrent disease was diagnosed at a scheduled visit by routine surveillance testing and symptomatic patients in which recurrent disease was diagnosed based on clinical symptomatology at an unscheduled office visit or hospitalization.

Results: Of the 121 patients that met inclusion criteria, 22 (18.2%) were diagnosed with a symptomatic recurrence. Median primary PFS was similar for asymptomatic and symptomatic patients (24.8 versus 22.6 months, P = 0.36); however, post-recurrence survival was significantly greater in asymptomatic patients (45.0 versus 29.4 months, P = 0.006). Secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCRS) was attempted equally in both groups (41% versus 32%, P = NS); however, optimal residual disease (<or=5mm) was more often achieved in asymptomatic patients (90% versus 57%, P = 0.053). On multivariate analysis, detection of asymptomatic recurrence was a significant and independent predictor of improved overall survival (P = 0.001). Median OS was significantly greater for asymptomatic patients (71.9 versus 50.7 months, P = 0.004).

Conclusions: In patients with platinum-sensitive EOC, detection of asymptomatic recurrences by routine surveillance testing was associated with a high likelihood of optimal SCRS in operative candidates and extended overall survival.