Differences between primary peritoneal serous carcinoma and advanced serous ovarian carcinoma: a study based on the SEER database

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare clinical features and overall survival (OS) between patients with primary peritoneal serous carcinoma (PPSC) and those with advanced serous ovarian carcinoma (ASOC) and to identify prognostic factors. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with PPSC and ASOC from 2010 to 2015 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were enrolled. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to compare clinical features. The primary endpoint was OS. The Kaplan–Meier method and log–rank test were used to perform the survival analysis. Propensity score matching was also conducted. Univariate, multivariate and subgroup analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: A total of 708 PPSC patients and 7610 ASOC patients were enrolled. The clinical features of PPSC patients were noticeably different from those of ASOC patients. The survival analysis showed that PPSC patients had poorer outcomes than ASOC patients. Even after the clinical features were balanced, PPSC patients still had poorer survival. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that older age, higher tumor grade and advanced American Joint Committee on Cancer stage were adverse prognostic factors in both groups, while surgery and chemotherapy were protective factors. A subgroup analysis demonstrated that most factors favored ASOC patients. The total distant metastasis rates of PPSC and ASOC were similar. Liver or lung metastasis was common, but bone and brain metastases were rare. A higher proportion of liver metastasis was observed in the ASOC group. CONCLUSION: The clinical features and survival outcomes between PPSC patients and ASOC patients are clearly different, and PPSC is more aggressive than ASOC. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13048-021-00788-y.