Pathological PCI as a prognostic marker of survival after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients undergoing interval cytoreduction with or without HIPEC in FIGO stage IIIC high grade serous ovarian cancer

Objective To determine the best possible value of pathological PCI (pPCI) as a prognostic marker for survival in high-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer patients in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and interval cytoreductive surgery.Methods All patients with FIGO stage IIIC high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma were included. Receiver operating curves (ROC) were used to determine the best possible score for pPCI in predicting survival. Survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier test, and factors affecting survival were compared using the log-rank test.Results From January 2018 to January 2024, 171 patients who underwent interval cytoreductive surgery were included. Complete cytoreduction was achieved in 88% of the patients. ROC curves determined a (pPCI) cut-off value of 8 as the best possible score for predicting survival with a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 67% (Youden's Index = 0.60). pPCI with a cut-off value of 8 showed improved OS (p = 0.002) and DFS, (p = 0.001) in both univariate and multivariate analyses.Conclusion Following interval cytoreductive surgery, despite optimal complete cytoreductive surgery, a pathological PCI of 8 is a poor prognostic indicator of survival and may serve as a surrogate clinical marker for guiding clinicians in adjuvant treatment, especially in resource-driven settings in the real world.