Ovarian Function Preservation in Patients With Cervical Cancer Undergoing Hysterectomy and Ovarian Transposition Before Pelvic Radiotherapy

Abstract

Background: To examine the factors associated with ovarian failure (OF) and assess the effectiveness of ovarian transposition (OT) before pelvic irradiation for preserving ovarian function in patients with cervical cancer (CC) undergoing hysterectomy.Methods: During 2003-2017, patients who underwent hysterectomy with preservation of one or both ovaries were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were divided into 4 groups, depending on whether radiotherapy (RT) and OT were performed: group 1, RT(+) and OT(+); group 2, RT(+) and OT(-); group 3, RT(-) and OT(+); group 4, RT(-) and OT(-). OF was defined as serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels of ≥30 mIU/mL.Results: Sixty-six patients (59 [89.4%] invasive CC and 7 [10.6%] cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) were included. The 2-year ovarian failure-free survival (OFFS) rate was 61.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 37.8–86.0), 0%, 91.7% (95% CI 76.0–100), and 75.8% (95% CI 58.2–93.4) for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. In groups 1 and 2 receiving RT, OT and combination of external beam radiotherapy and vaginal brachytherapy (VB) were associated with OF on multivariate analysis (MVA) (p-value=0.002 and 0.046, respectively). In groups 3 and 4 without RT, older age (40 years) and OT did not affect OF; however, the number of remaining ovaries was independently associated with OF in MVA (p=0.035).Conclusions: OT could effectively preserve ovarian function in adjuvant RT-treated patients. Lower location of transposed ovary with VB boost was significantly associated with early OF.