The purpose of this study is to describe the progression-free and overall survival of patients treated on GOG protocol 158 when their tumors are reclassified into a two-tier grading system. Although no universal grading system exists, Malpica et al. have recently published data on a clinically meaningful two-tier grading system for serous ovarian carcinoma (Malpica et al., American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 2004). Tumor grade has been shown to be an important prognostic factor in women with epithelial ovarian cancer, especially in early stage carcinomas. While there is less consensus regarding the prognostic significance of grade in late stage tumors, researchers have noted that patients with low-grade advanced disease may have a longer survival than those with high-grade lesions (Bodurka-Bevers et al., Gynecologic Oncology, 2000).
