An Analysis of Long-Term Outcomes in Patients Treated by Extensive Bowel Resection Due to Advanced Ovarian Cancer Relative to the Effectiveness of Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Surgery for advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) often requires bowel resections. However, the impact of bowel surgery on patient overall survival (OS) has not yet been precisely determined. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyze the OS rates in a group of AOC patients undergoing bowel resection. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective analysis of patients who had undergone low anterior resection of the rectum (LAR) during primary or interval debulking surgery for AOC. We divided the patients into 2 groups: Group 1 included 69 patients who underwent only LAR; Group 2 included 66 patients who underwent LAR and additional bowel resection. The control group included 71 AOC patients who did not required bowel resection. RESULTS: In the subgroup of patients with no gross residual disease (NGR), there were no differences in OS between Groups 1 and 2. In the subgroup of "optimally" (tumors <1 cm) debulked patients, Group 1 patients had a higher median OS than Group 2 patients. Additionally, there was no difference between Groups 1 and 2 as far as the number of severe adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple bowel resections seem to improve OS in patients when NGR is achieved but should be avoided when complete resection is not possible.