Venous thromboembolism during primary treatment of ovarian clear cell carcinoma is associated with decreased survival

Objectives

To determine the impact of venous thromboembolism (VTE) during primary treatment of ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) on survival.

Methods

After Institutional Review Board approval, 74 cases of OCCC were retrieved from our pathology files. Clinical and pathological data were obtained by medical record and pathology review. Standard statistical analyses were performed.

Results

Among 74 patients with OCCC, VTE was diagnosed in 11 (15%) during primary treatment and 7 (9%) at time of cancer recurrence. 56 (76%) patients never developed VTE. Patients with VTE during OCCC primary treatment had shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) than OCCC patients without VTE (median PFS 11 vs. 76 months, p = 0.01, median OS 19 vs. 90 months, p = 0.001). Patients with VTE during OCCC primary treatment had a 3.9-fold increase in risk of recurrence (p = 0.007) and a 6.3-fold increase in risk of death (p < 0.001). After controlling for cancer stage, VTE during OCCC primary treatment remained an independent prognostic factor for death (HR = 3.6, p = 0.005). No patient died of VTE.

Conclusions

VTE during OCCC primary treatment is associated with a significantly higher risk of cancer recurrence and death. This increased risk is not attributable to VTE-related mortality and raises the possibility that a paracrine circuit involving thrombosis might contribute to a more aggressive tumor biology.