Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is an effective way of managing elderly women with advanced stage ovarian cancer (FIGO Stage IIIC and IV)

Background: To compare outcomes in women ≥ age 70 who receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) followed by cytoreductive surgery with those undergoing upfront cytoreductive surgery followed by the same chemotherapy. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed for women ≥ age 70 with Stage IIIC or Stage IV EOC from 1996 to 2009. Results: Sixty-two patients who underwent upfront cytoreductive surgery and 42 patients who received NACT were eligible for analysis. Patients receiving NACT were significantly more likely to have Stage IV disease (P = 0.004). Cytoreduction to no macroscopic disease was achieved in 71.4% of women who received NACT and 28.1% of women undergoing upfront surgery (P < 0.001). NACT patients had significantly less blood loss at surgery (P = 0.01), required fewer small bowel resections (P = 0.009), had shorter ICU stays (P = 0.02) and fewer hospital days (P = 0.04). NACT patients experienced a trend toward an improved progression-free survival (P = 0.078); however, no statistically significant differences were found in either the progression-free or overall survival analyses. Conclusion NACT is associated with reduced perioperative morbidity in elderly patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer.