Ovarian Cancer Patient-Centered Decision Aid

Ovarian cancer is typically diagnosed at an advanced stage and carries the highest fatality-to-case ratio of all gynecologic malignancies diagnosed in the United States. Arguably the most effective treatment regimen to date is provided through intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy delivery, together with intravenous (IV) chemotherapy, which in the most recent phase III randomized trial conferred the longest median survival (65.6 months) ever reported in advanced ovarian cancer, compared to 49.7 months in the IV-only treatment arm. However, during active treatment, patients randomized to the IP therapy group reported significantly worse quality of life (QOL), and more treatment-related toxicities. In short, women are less likely to die if they receive an IP component to their chemotherapy, a finding that was underscored by an NCI Clinical Alert. However, there may be greater toxicity with IP treatment. The tradeoff between short-term reduced QOL and longer survival is difficult for patients to understand and then incorporate meaningfully into their decision-making process. In fact, for reasons that are not entirely clear, many patients are not offered IP therapy. Patient-centered care requires that they be given the opportunity to participate in treatment decision-making.