Minimally-Invasive Secondary Cytoreduction in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Ovarian cancer (OC) represents one of the most lethal cancers in women, with most cases diagnosed at an advanced stage. Recurrence occurs in around 70% of women within 5 years of diagnosis. In this era, in which maintenance therapy with PARP-inhibitors is the standard of care, most recurrent OC (ROC) patients are platinum-sensitive, and the choice of treatment becomes crucial. Randomized clinical trials investigated the role of surgery plus chemotherapy in the treatment of ROC, underlying an advantage in terms of progression-free survival and overall survival compared with chemotherapy alone. New recommendations concluded that platinum-sensitive OC patients should be assessed for eligibility for secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS) in a gynecological oncology center. In selected cases, a minimally-invasive approach can be used. This narrative review is focused on minimally-invasive SCS and on the wide range of elements that must be considered in patient selection. ABSTRACT: The role of secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS) in the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC) has been widely increased in recent years, especially in trying to improve the quality of life of these patients by utilising a minimally-invasive (MI) approach. However, surgery in previously-treated patients may be challenging, and patient selection and surgical planning are crucial. Unfortunately, at the moment, validated criteria to select patients for MI-SCS are not reported, and no predictors of its feasibility are currently available, probably due to the vast heterogeneity of recurrence patterns. The aim of this narrative review is to describe the role of secondary cytoreductive surgery and, in particular, minimally-invasive procedures, in ROC, analyzing patient selection, outcomes, criticisms, and future perspectives.