The use of bevacizumab is correlated with improved post-progression survival in advanced recurrent ovarian cancer

Background: The recent improvements in anti-cancer therapy following first-line treatment can potentially impact post-progression survival. We evaluated the factors that influence post-progression survival in advanced recurrent ovarian cancer. Methods: Eighty-nine patients who underwent first-line treatment between June 2005 and December 2017 were included. The post-progression survival was defined as the difference between overall survival and initial progression-free survival. The effects of age, histology, stage, optimal surgery, secondary debulking surgery, bevacizumab administration, platinum sensitivity, and olaparib maintenance in recurrence were compared and independent risk factors were determined. Results: The median follow-up duration was 60.0 months (range: 2-181). Platinum-sensitive recurrence had longer post-progression survival than platinum-resistant (P < 0.001). Inclusion of bevacizumab in first-line treatment did not produce a significant difference in post-progression survival (P = 0.462). Secondary debulking surgery (P = 0.013), bevacizumab administration (P < 0.001), and olaparib maintenance (P = 0.001) during recurrence increased post-progression survival. In multivariate analysis, histologies other than serous or endometrioid (hazard ratio = 2.389; 95% confidence interval = 1.200-4.754; P = 0.013) and non-bevacizumab usage in recurrence (hazard ratio = 4.484; 95% confidence interval = 1.939-10.370; P < 0.001) were independently correlated with poorer prognosis. Bevacizumab administration beyond progressive disease elicited improved post-progression survival (P < 0.001). In patients receiving bevacizumab in first-line treatment, exclusion of bevacizumab in the recurrent therapy (hazard ratio = 5.507; 95% confidence interval = 2.301-12.124; P < 0.001) was independently correlated with poorer prognosis. Conclusions: The continuous use of bevacizumab beyond progressive disease improves post-progression survival suggesting its important role in first-line and recurrence treatment for ovarian cancer.

Automated summary

This study evaluated factors influencing post-progression survival in patients with advanced recurrent ovarian cancer, finding that platinum-sensitive patients had longer survival than platinum-resistant patients. The use of bevacizumab, secondary debulking surgery, and olaparib maintenance in recurrence were associated with increased post-progression survival.