Ovarian cancer carries a poor prognosis, particularly in regions with limited screening and late presentation. This single-institution retrospective study analysed 437 histologically confirmed ovarian cancer cases treated at Buddha Cancer Centre, Patna, over five years. The mean age was 55.7 ± 16.1 years, with the majority (36.2%) aged ≥60 years. Over 75% of patients came from rural backgrounds, and 74.6% presented at FIGO stage III or IV. The most frequent histologies were serous (52.5%), mucinous (22.7%), and endometrioid (13.6%). CA-125 was elevated in 77.7% of cases.
Curative-intent therapy was offered to 89.2% of patients. Cytoreductive surgery was performed in 112 patients (25.6%), and platinum-based chemotherapy was the backbone of treatment. The overall response rate included 19.9% complete response and 16.3% partial response, while 43.5% progressed. Median progression-free survival for stages I, II, III, and IV were 58, 42, 16, and 12 months, respectively; corresponding median OS were 60, 48, 36, and 20 months. Patients undergoing surgery followed by chemotherapy achieved superior OS (P<0.05). The 5-year OS was only 20.6%, with advanced stage and poor performance status predicting worse outcomes. BRCA testing was underutilised due to financial constraints.
These findings align with national data and highlight the persistent challenge of delayed diagnosis in resource-limited settings. Strengthening cancer awareness and screening programmes in rural Bihar is essential to improve survival.
The work titled “A Histopathological Spectrum, Descriptive Epidemiology and Survival Status of Ovarian Cancer Cases from a Tertiary Cancer Centre in Northern India: A Retrospective Cohort Study”, was published on Malignancy Spectrum (published on June 30, 2026).
DOI：10.15302/MSP.2026.0012