Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced-stage ovarian cancer – state of the art

Ovarian cancer represents the fifth cause of cancer death among women, carrying one of the worst prognoses among gynaecological malignancies. The need to achieve no residual disease after surgery in order to optimize prognosis of advanced-stage ovarian cancer introduced the idea of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The present review aims to summarize current state-of-the-art evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy as well as novel insights regarding the usage of modern therapeutic regimens in the context of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The last decade has been characterized by the breakthrough scientific evidence that neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery for advanced-stage ovarian cancer may be comparable to primary debulking surgery. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery is an acceptable – if not preferable – therapeutic approach in advanced-staged ovarian cancer patients because it is associated with higher optimal debulking surgery, fewer complications, and non-inferior survival outcomes. The addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy contributes significantly to survival outcomes without causing side effects that outbalance the benefits. Patients with recurrent high-grade serous ovarian cancer and a germline or breast cancer mutation should be offered maintenance olaparib after a response to platinum-based chemotherapy. Finally, the role of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in the context of neoadjuvant chemotherapy remains unjustified.