Study on prognostic factors of low-grade serous ovarian cancer and establishment of nomogram prognostic model

Abstract

Background: Low-grade serous ovarian cancer is a low incidence type of ovarian cancer, and this study aimed to investigate the clinical features and effective treatment strategies that may influence its prognosis. Methods: We retrospectively examined the clinical characteristics of patients with a diagnosis of low-grade plasma ovarian cancer recorded in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 1988-2017. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression proportional risk method were used to assess overall survival (OS). A column-wise model that could predict OS was constructed based on Cox proportional risk. Results: The study found that age, marital status, side, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, serum cancer antigen 125 (CA125), surgery, postoperative residual disease diameter and chemotherapy all significantly affected the prognosis of the disease. Among them, serum CA125, FIGO stage, surgery, postoperative residual disease diameter and chemotherapy were independent factors affecting prognosis. According to the nomogram, FIGO staging and prognosis of low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) patients were the most significant, followed by surgery and chemotherapy, while age at presentation and chemotherapy had little effect on OS. Conclusion: The better prognosis of LGSOC is associated with surgery, surgical outcomes, chemotherapy, and early-stage patients. However, large sample studies are needed to further clarify whether patients with early serous ovarian cancer are suitable for fertility-sparing surgery, and whether chemotherapy and radiotherapy should be added in patients with advanced ovarian cancer.