Abstract
Introduction: Ovarian cancer is a common cause of death among women who develop gynecological neoplasms. Survival depends on clinical factors and the type of surgery. The objective of the present study is to describe the survival of a group of patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer taking into account several factors.
Methods: The present retrospective longitudinal study was conducted in women with ovarian cancer treated at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, Havana-Cuba between January 1 and December 31, 2005, with follow-up of at least 5 years . The variables were age, histological type of the tumor, clinical stage of the FIGO, degree of cellular differentiation, values of the CA-125 biomarker, type of surgery performed, response to the chemotherapy used, survival, recurrences. The statistical package used was SPSS 11.0 for Windows. Statistical tests were applied, such as the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test, the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test and the Pearson Chi-square test.
Results: There were 29 cases of women with ovarian cancer. Eleven cases (37.9%) were in children under 45 years of age. In Clinical Stage III, 18 cases (62.1%). Of undifferentiated degree in 17 cases (58.6%). 16 cases (55.2%) were of the serous histological type. The value of CA-125 was> 35 U/ mL in 13 cases (61.9%). Women with clinical stage I had a Disease Free Interval (DFI) of 46 months versus
27 months in women with stage III and 12 months in stage IV (P> 0.05). The degree of differentiated cellular differentiation statistically determined the best DFI: 55 months versus 27 months in the moderately differentiated degree and 21 months in the undifferentiated degree (P = 0.025). The histological type as well as CA-125 levels did not determine statistical differences of DFI, as well as in Average Global Survival (AGS). According to the type of treatment, there were no significant statistical differences in the FID and AGS. However, surgeries classified as "optimal" by the surgical team had a greater DFI (Delta 17 months) P = 0.038.
Conclusion: In this case series presented, patients with ovarian cancer in clinical stage I had a better survival than patients with clinical stage III. Likewise, surgeries classified as optimal had greater free disease interval and greater disease-free survival.