Effects of metastasectomy and other factors on survival of patients with ovarian metastases from gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Ovarian metastasis from gastric cancer (Krukenberg tumor [KT]) has no consensus treatment and the role of surgical treatment is still controversial. Identifying prognostic factors for KT could help guide the management of this tumor. We used a meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic value of metastasectomy and other factors in patients with KT to develop a treatment plan. We searched literature in PubMed, Cochrane library and EMBASE. We analyzed hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) with respect to overall survival (OS). The meta-analysis included 12 cohort studies with 1,031 patients associated with longer OS following metastasectomy (HR = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.32-0.53; P < 0.001), R0 resection (HR = 0.37; 95% CI = 0.26-0.53; P < 0.001), metachronous ovarian metastasis (HR = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.58-0.93; P = 0.012), size of KT (<5 cm) (HR = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.58-0.95; P = 0.019), ECOG PS (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status) 0 to 1 (HR = 0.48; 95% CI = 0.29-0.80; P = 0.004), tumor confined to ovary (HR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.16-0.99; P = 0.047), and tumor confined to pelvic cavity (HR = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.14-0.92; P = 0.033). Shorter OS was associated with peritoneal carcinomatosis (HR = 2.00; 95% CI = 1.25-3.21; P = 0.004), ascites (HR = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.19-2.31; P = 0.003) and positive CEA (HR = 1.41; 95% CI = 1.10-1.82; P = 0.007). Gastrectomy led to a slight improvement in OS, but without statistical significance (HR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.47-1.02; P = 0.061). No significant difference in OS was observed in patients with signet-ring cells (HR = 1.17; 95% CI = 0.91-1.51; P = 0.226), bilateral ovarian metastasis (HR = 0.87; 95% CI = 0.70-1.08; P = 0.212), age >= 50 years (HR = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.71-1.22; P = 0.619), positive CA19-9 (HR = 1.01; 95% CI = 0.75-1.35; P = 0.960), and positive CA-125 (HR = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.73-1.33; P = 0.915). Various factors affect OS in patients with KT.