Intraperitoneal chemotherapy versus no treatment in patients with ovarian carcinoma who are in complete clinical remission.

Abstract

The optimal management of patients with ovarian carcinoma who are in complete clinical remission after completion of postoperative cisplatin-based chemotherapy has not been established. In this study, the outcomes of two groups of such patients were compared. One group of 25 patients underwent a second-look laparotomy and subsequently received three courses of intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IP group). The other group of 12 patients was not reexplored and received no additional treatment (NT group). A trend for better survival in the IP group was found compared with the NT group. There was no difference in the duration of the progression-free interval. More effective treatment for the consolidation of complete clinical remission in patients with ovarian carcinoma is needed.