Serous fallopian tube carcinoma: a retrospective, multi-institutional case-control comparison to serous adenocarcinoma of the ovary

Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube (PCFT) accounts for perhaps 1% of genital tract cancers. The investigators undertook a matched, case-control comparison of 96 women with a diagnosis of PCFT and 189 control women having ovarian carcinoma (OC). The groups were matched for age, tumor stage, and the presence of residual disease. All patients were surgically staged and, if indicated, given platinum-based chemotherapy. Fifty early-stage (FIGO stage I or II) cases of PCFT were matched with 97 OC patients. A regimen of carboplatinum and paclitaxel was used in more than 80% of cases. Median follow-up intervals for the PCFT and OC groups were 57 and 42 months, respectively. The respective 5-year overall survival rates were 95% and 76%. Excluding cases of stage IA PCFT, the 5-year survival rate was 92% for patients with PCFT and 70% for those with OC. Progression-free 5-year survival rates were 62% and 50%, respectively, not a significant difference. Excluding early-stage PCFT cases that were found incidentally during surgery for benign conditions or at the time of salpingo-oophorectomy, 5-year survival was 97% for PCFT cases and 77% for cases of OC. When 46 cases of stage III/IV PCFT were matched with 92 OC cases and followed up for nearly 3 years, the 3-year overall survival rate was 59% for both groups. Progression-free 3-year survival rates were 26% for PCFT patients and 21% for control patients with OC (P = 0.46). These findings should lead clinicians to be assured that treatment of PCFT should mirror that of OC.