Treatment of Ovarian Cancer - New Findings
American Cancer Society rates studies of the experts from the Essen-Mitte clinics as the most important of the year in the field of gynecological oncology. Women are expected to receive improved treatment worldwide.
Women with ovarian cancer had shorter times for surgery, fewer adverse events and overall better treatment outcomes in the studies conducted at the Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology at prosper-Netzkrankenhaus, Essen-Mitte Hospital. Professor Dr. Andreas du Bois and Dr. Philipp Harter presented the results of two international studies by the Association for Gynecologic Oncology (AGO) at the International Cancer Congress (ASCO) in Chicago. More than 50,000 participants from all around the world came together to discuss the latest findings of cancer research. The American Cancer Society rated the studies presented by the experts at the Essen-Mitte Hospital as the world's most important gynecological oncology studies of this year. The immediate impact of these studies on the treatment of patients is huge.
Study 1: Less radical surgery during initial treatment shortens surgery times and avoids complications.
In AGO-OVAR LION study, Dr. Harter tried to answer the following question: What role does lymph node removal play in patients with the first onset of advanced ovarian cancer? So far, the removal of lymph nodes along the pelvic large vessels and the abdominal aorta in all patients, in whom tumors could be completely removed from the abdomen, was often an integral part of the operation. However, this always leads to longer surgery times and might additionally cause complications. The study showed that the routine extraction of lymph nodes does not improve the prognosis. “In the future, we will no longer remove lymph nodes that are neither visibly nor palpably affected by secondary tumors. This applies to patients with advanced ovarian, fallopian tube and peritoneal cancer” – says Dr. Harter. Not only the surgical time is shortened, but also side effects such as infections or lymphocysts are less likely to appear.
Study 2: Re-operation for higher efficiency
The main goal of this study was to understand, whether a new operation should be offered on the first recurrence of ovarian cancer. Prof. du Bois addressed this question within the AGO-OVAR DESKTOP III study and presented remarkable results. Dr. du Bois reported: "It was found that for patients who had the tumor completely removed during the first operation and had the first chemotherapy for more than six months, reoperation in addition to chemotherapy may be useful". This also applies to patients with tubal and peritoneal cancer. Although the final results are still awaited, the currently available data suggest that the surgery has a much greater effect than any chemotherapy established in this field.
Improved therapies for women with cancer
Professor du Bois concludes: "The results of these two studies will significantly improve the treatment of many women with ovarian cancer worldwide, but especially in Germany. Again, it turns out that patients participating in clinical trials have some of these treatment advantages directly as part of their therapy. Especially at study centers such as the Clinic for Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology at the Essen-Mitte Hospital, patients have been benefiting from innovative treatment for many years before their routine introduction". On behalf of the entire team, Professor du Bois thanks all patients who agreed to participate in clinical trials.
