Ovarian Cancer Treatment Patterns and Outcomes Study

In 2001, CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) began the Ovarian Cancer Treatment Patterns and Outcomes Study, the second patterns of care study funded through NPCR. The study determined—

• If ovarian cancer patients received standard treatment.
• If treatment was associated with patient characteristics (race/ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, and insurance status) or hospital and provider characteristics.

The study used data collected by cancer registries in New York and Northern California. The data related to patient, tumor, provider, and treatment characteristics for patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer in these areas between 1998 and 2000. The researchers did not contact patients or interview doctors. Information about patients was collected through December 31, 2006.

The study suggests that patients who were older than 65 years received standard treatment for ovarian cancer less often, and did not survive as long after diagnosis, as younger patients. More research will help doctors determine the best ways to treat their ovarian cancer patients.

Several articles are being written as a result of this study, including—

Cress RD, Bauer K, O'Malley CD, Kahn AR, Schymura MJ, Wike JM, Stewart SL, Leiserowitz GS. Surgical staging of early stage epithelial ovarian cancer: Results from the CDC-NPCR ovarian patterns of care study. Gynecologic Oncology 2011;121(1):94–99.

Treatment, Subspecialist Care, and Outcomes of Ovarian Cancer Study

As a follow-up to the Ovarian Cancer Treatment Patterns and Outcomes Study, in 2010 NPCR began the Treatment, Subspecialist Care, and Outcomes of Ovarian Cancer Study, that determines if ovarian cancer patients who are treated by a gynecologic oncologist survive longer than patients who are treated by a doctor who does not specialize in gynecologic cancer. This study will look at differences in ovarian cancer treatment that may influence survival time, and will also look at second- and third-line chemotherapy treatments. This is an important area of study, since ovarian cancer often comes back after being treated the first time, and treatment guidelines are less clear for recurring cancer. A pilot study involving two NPCR registries will begin in 2011.