The Role of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Treating Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

The current management of advanced ovarian cancer consists of aggressive primary cytoreductive surgery (PCS) followed by combination platinum based chemotherapy. Recent studies have suggested that platinum-based chemotherapy may be of benefit in patients with advanced ovarian cancer prior to cytoreductive surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy, NACT). The concept of NACT has not been completely validated in the treatment of ovarian cancer. This review will discuss the role of NACT in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. J. Surg. Oncol. 2010;101:334-343. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.