Evaluation of the prognostic value of lymphadenectomy for low-grade serous ovarian cancer: A case-control multicenter retrospective study

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of lymphadenectomy in low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) remains uncertain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 155 patients with LGSOC who underwent surgery over a ten-year period (2011–2020) was performed. The propensity score matching (PSM) algorithm was performed between the lymphadenectomy and no lymphadenectomy groups, and Kaplan-Meier analyses were conducted to evaluate clinical prognosis. Finally, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to analyze high-risk factors associated with clinical prognosis. RESULTS: In the pre-PSM cohort, 110 (71.0%) patients underwent lymphadenectomy. Of these, 54 (34.8%) experienced recurrence, and 27 (17.4%) died. There were statistical differences in disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.018) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.016) in the post-PSM cohort. In the subgroup analysis, there were no statistically significant differences in DFS (P = 0.449) or OS (P = 0.167) in the FIGO I/II cohort. However, in the FIGO III/IV cohort, DFS (P = 0.011) and OS (P = 0.046) were statistically different between the two groups. Age > 50 years, FIGO stage III/IV, and suboptimal cytoreductive surgery were risk factors associated with prognosis. In the lymphadenectomy group, the histological status of pelvic lymph nodes had no significant effect on DFS (P = 0.205) or OS (P = 0.114). CONCLUSION: Lymphadenectomy was associated with DFS and OS, particularly in patients with advanced LGSOC patients. Age > 50 years, advanced FIGO stage III/IV, and suboptimal cytoreductive surgery were high-risk factors associated with clinical prognosis in patients with LGSOC.