The optimal management of MBO in patients with ovarian cancer has not been defined by proper prospective randomized control trials evaluating the impact of defined multidisciplinary treatment arms (surgical, chemotherapeutic, supportive care approaches) on important clinical outcomes including resolution of bowel obstruction, survival endpoints and validated quality of life outcomes. In order to improve patient outcomes, we must define which patients will benefit from palliative surgery, which patients are appropriate candidates for chemotherapy and which patients will benefit most from best supportive care. This study will determine the safety, feasibility of chemotherapy and BSC in patients with advanced ovarian cancer presenting with MBO who are initially deemed non-surgical candidates and will identify the impact of chemotherapy and BSC on quality of life and resolution of bowel obstruction, in preparation for future prospective randomized studies to determine the optimal management of MBO.
