ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine whether the implementation of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol is associated with earlier return to intended oncology treatment following interval cytoreductive surgery for advanced gynecologic cancers.MethodsParticipants comprised consecutive patients (n=278) with a preoperative diagnosis of stage IIIC or IV ovarian cancer, divided into those that received treatment before versus after implementation of an ERAS protocol at our institution. All patients received at least three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with a platinum based regimen and underwent interval cytoreduction via laparotomy with the intent to deliver additional cycles of chemotherapy postoperatively. The primary outcome was defined as the timely return to intended oncologic treatment, defined as the percentage of patients initiating adjuvant chemotherapy within 28 days postoperatively.ResultsThe study cohorts included 150 pre-ERAS patients and 128 post-ERAS patients. Median age was 65 years (range 58–71). Most patients (211; 75.9%) had an American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 3, and the median operative time was 174 min (range 137–219). Median length of stay was 4 days (range 3–5 days) in the pre-ERAS cohort versus 3 days (range 3–4) in the post-ERAS cohort (p<0.0001). At 28 days after operation, 80% of patients had resumed chemotherapy in the post-ERAS cohort compared with 64% in the pre-ERAS cohort (odds ratio (OR) 2.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36 to 3.84; p=0.002). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the ERAS protocol was the strongest predictor of timely return to intended oncology treatment (OR 10.18, 95% CI 5.35 to 20.32).ConclusionAn ERAS protocol for gynecologic oncology patients undergoing interval cytoreductive surgery is associated with earlier resumption of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Given the potential negative consequences associated with the SCF including its disproportionate burden on women of low socioeconomic status, the lack of value added to the decision-making process for postpartum sterilization reported by our participants provides further evidence for reevaluation of the policy.

For patients with locally advanced primary or recurrent gynecologic cancers, prognosis is poor. Doses of external beam radiation therapy required to treat either gross or microscopic disease in patients previously irradiated or treated surgically exceed doses that are tolerated by normal anatomic structures. Intraoperative radiation therapy allows maximal tumor control achievable with radiation while minimizing radiation exposure of dose-limiting surrounding structures. Intraoperative radiation therapy is a unique treatment modality, allowing direct visualization of the target volume during a planned surgical procedure. Intraoperative radiation therapy has the potential to improve both long-term local control and overall survival especially in patients with para-aortic and/or pelvic sidewall recurrences.

Volume of residual disease before IORT is an important prognostic indicator. Local recurrence and distant metastases were more common among patients with gross residual disease left in situ at time of IORT. Our institutional experience with IORT further supports the importance of complete surgical resection.