Conservative treatment in epithelial ovarian cancer:: results of a multicentre study of the GCCLCC (Groupe des Chirurgiens de Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer) and SFOG (Societe Francaise d'Oncologie Gynecologique)

BACKGROUND: Results of conservative management of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remain controversial in the literature. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical outcomes and fertility following fertility-sparing surgical management of EOC in a retrospective multicentre study. METHODS: A multicentre retrospective study was performed by members of two French groups. Six inclusion criteria were defined: (i) Histological review by the same pathologist; (ii) age <= 40 years; (iii) conservative management; (iv) complete peritoneal staging; (v) delivery of a platinum-based chemotherapy in stage >= IC; and (vi) follow-up >1 year. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria: 30 had stage IA disease; three had stage IC and one had stage IIA. Eleven patients had recurrence: 10 patients had invasive disease and one had borderline recurrence. Among 10 patients with invasive recurrence, initial stage and grade were: stage IA G1, n=1; stage IA G2, n=4; stage IA G3, n=1; and stage >= IC, n=4. All patients with stage > IA had recurrence. Ten pregnancies were observed in nine patients. CONCLUSION: Conservative surgery for patients with EOC could be considered in young patients with stage IA G1 disease. This procedure should not be performed in patients with FIGO stage > IA.