Stage IIIC transitional cell carcinoma and serous carcinoma of the ovary have similar outcomes when treated with platinum-based chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE Previous studies reported better outcomes for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the ovary when compared with more common histologic types such as serous epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs). The aim of this study was to compare the survival outcomes of platinum- based chemotherapy in patients with stage IIIC TCCs and serous EOCs. MATERIAL AND METHODS Clinicopathologic features and survival data of patients with FIGO stage IIIC TCC and serous EOC who had undergone primary surgery followed by six cycles of intravenous platinum/taxane between 2007 and 2015 were retrieved from the database of Hacettepe University Hospital. RESULTS We identified 14 (10.9%) TCCs and 114 (89.1%) serous EOCs. The median follow-up duration was 28 months (range, 3-101 months). Univariate analysis revealed that the TCCs and serous EOCs had similar progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Patients with residual disease less than 1 cm had longer OS than patients with residual disease greater than 1 cm (75.0 vs. 45.0 months, p=0.012). Cox regression analysis of all potential prognostic factors showed that the only independent prognostic factor significantly associated with OS was residual disease less than 1 cm [hazard ratio=0.38; 95% confidence interval: (0.19-0.77); p=0.007]. CONCLUSION Surgically treated advanced stage TCCs did not have a significantly better prognosis after platinum/taxane-based chemotherapy when compared with serous EOCs. Residual tumor volume after primary surgery was the only independent predictor of OS in patients with EOC. Our results demonstrate the significance of achieving optimal cytoreduction in all histologic subtypes of EOC.