Results from a Monocentric Long-Term Analysis of 23 Patients with Ovarian Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumors

Background Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (SLCTs) represent less than 0.5% of ovarian tumors. Because of the rarity of this tumor and its peak in frequency at around 25 years of age, this study aimed to describe SLCT management strategies. Objective The objective of this study was to determine the management (i.e., conservative surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy) of ovarian SLCTs. Results This retrospective analysis included 23 patients treated for ovarian SLCTs. A centralized pathologic review of the tumors was conducted. Patients were referred to or treated in our institution for an ovarian SLCT between 1994 and 2015. The median age at diagnosis was 33 years (range, 4-82 years). According to the 2014 Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics classification, tumors were classified as stage Ia (n = 15: well differentiated, n = 1; of intermediate differentiation, n = 8; undifferentiated, n = 4; and undefined, n = 2), stage Ib (n = 1), stage Ic1 (n = 5), stage IIb (n = 1), and stage IIIc (n = 1). Surgery was conservative in 13 patients (Ia, n = 7; Ib, n = 1; Ic1, n = 5) and radical in 10 patients (Ia, n = 8; IIb, n = 1; IIIc, n = 1). Seven patients received adjuvant chemotherapy with a cisplatin-based regimen (Ia, n = 2; Ic1, n = 3; IIb, n = 1) or docetaxel + gemcitabine (IIIc, n = 1). Median follow-up was 61 months (range, 15-252 months). Eight patients experienced a relapse (Ia, n = 2; Ib, n = 1; Ic1, n = 3; IIb, n = 1; IIIc, n = 1). Of these, six had at least one peritoneal carcinomatosis, and four died (Ic1, n = 2; IIb, n = 1; and Ia, n = 1). Two patients had a local relapse (one uterus and one ovary) and survived without disease after relapse treatment. The median time between the initial treatment and relapse was 28 months (range 9-70). Conclusion Conservative surgery was safe for patients with stage Ia ovarian SLCTs. The place of conservative surgery for stage Ic1 remains to be defined. The best chemotherapy regimen remains to be defined.