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Background Study undertaken to find any association of metformin intake to that of survival in ovarian cancer. Methods In this retrospective case control study, ovarian cancer patients who took metformin (cases) were compared with patients having ovarian cancer but no metformin (controls). Two-layered analysis was conducted. In preliminary analysis, all cases (OC cohort) were compared with controls in 1:2 ratio. Subsequently in definitive analysis, only Epithelial Ovarian Cancer cases (EOC cohort) were compared with controls in 1:3 ratio. In EOC cohort, cases were matched with controls for age (+/−5 years), FIGO stage and residual disease. Prognostic variables and Disease Specific Survival (DSS) were compared with Chi square, Kaplan-Meier (log rank) and Cox proportional hazards. Results In the preliminary analysis on the OC cohort (72 cases, 143 controls), cases had a better survival (5 year DSS for cases 73% vs. controls 44%; p=0.0002). In the definitive analysis on the EOC cohort (61 cases, 178 controls) distribution of age, stage, optimal cytoreduction, serous histology and platinum chemotherapy remained similar amongst the cases and controls (p>0.05). Despite these similarities, cases had a significantly better survival (5 year DSS for cases 67% vs. controls 47%; p=0.007). On a multivariate analysis, metformin remained an independent predictor of survival (hazards ratio 3.7; 95% CI 1.6–9.0; p=0.002) after controlling for stage, grade, histology, chemotherapy, body mass index and surgical cytoreduction. Conclusion This study reports association rather than causation. Metformin intake was associated with better survival in ovarian cancer. Metformin is worthy of clinical trials in ovarian cancer.

Implementation of an evidence-based surgical site infection reduction bundle was associated with substantial reductions in surgical site infection in high-risk cancer procedures.

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Objective Preoperative thrombocytosis has been implicated as a negative prognostic marker for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). We assessed whether thrombocytosis is an independent risk factor for EOC recurrence and death. Methods Perioperative patient characteristics and process-of-care variables (National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP)-defined) were retrospectively abstracted from 587 women who underwent EOC staging between 1/2/03–12/29/08. Thrombocytosis was defined as platelet count >450 × 109/L. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were determined using Kaplan-Meier methods. Associations were evaluated with Cox proportional hazards regression and hazard ratios (HR). Results The incidence of preoperative thrombocytosis was 22.3%. DFS was 70.8% and 36.0% at 1 and 3 years. OS was 83.3% and 54.3% at 1 and 3 years. Ascites, lower hemoglobin, advanced disease, and receipt of perioperative packed red blood cell transfusion were independently associated with thrombocytosis. Older age and the presence of coronary artery disease were associated with lower likelihood of thrombocytosis. Overall, thrombocytosis was an independent predictor of increased risk of recurrence. Among early stage (I/II) cases, there was a 5-fold increase in the risk of death and nearly 8-fold risk of disease recurrence independently associated with thrombocytosis. Conclusion Preoperative thrombocytosis portends worse DFS in EOC. In early stage disease, thrombocytosis is a potent predictor of worse DFS and OS and further assessment of the impact of circulating platelet-derived factors on EOC survival is warranted. Thrombocytosis is also associated with extensive initial disease burden, measurable residual disease, and postoperative sequelae. Preoperative platelet levels may have value in primary cytoreduction counseling.