Patient-reported outcomes after extensive (ultraradical) surgery for ovarian cancer: results from a prospective longitudinal feasibility study

Background: Extensive (ultraradical) surgery may facilitate complete cytoreduction in ovarian cancer with potential survival benefit but with greater morbidity. Currently, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from such surgery are unknown. We conducted the Surgery in Ovarian Cancer Quality of life Evaluation Research study (SOCQER 1), a prospective study investigating the feasibility of collection of serial PROs in patients who had extensive surgery and standard surgery for ovarian cancer.
Methods: Ninety-three patients were recruited for 33 months to complete serial PRO assessments using the validated EORTC QLQ-C30 and the ovarian cancer–specific QLQ-OV28 questionnaires preoperatively, at 6 weeks, and at 3, 6, and 9 months postoperatively. Aletti Surgical Complexity Score of 3 or lower was considered standard surgery; a Surgical Complexity Score of 4 or higher was considered extensive surgery. Prospective data collection was obtained from the hospital electronic database, including patient demographics, American Society of Anaesthesiologists grade, preoperative serum CA125 and albumin levels, chemotherapy regimen, and surgical morbidity.
Results: Three cohorts of patients—32 benign, 32 undergoing standard surgery, and 24 undergoing extensive surgery—completed the questionnaires. Median questionnaire completion rate in this study was 64%, demonstrating the feasibility of longitudinal quality of life (QoL) assessment after surgery. Patient-reported outcomes revealed a falling trend in QoL in the short-term (6 weeks-3 months) after surgery, which gradually returned to baseline at 6 to 9 months; this trend was more marked after extensive surgery.
Conclusions: This study provides useful insight into the impact of extensive surgery on patients. Further multicenter studies are needed to evaluate the impact of extensive surgery on patient’s QoL and survival.