Any role for adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced-stage borderline ovarian tumors? A case report and review of the literature
Abstract
BackgroundBorderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) typically affect young women; therefore, fertility preservation is a major concern in their management. Fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) is considered the standard of care for BOTs, regardless of disease stage. However, its oncologic safety remains debated, and the role of chemotherapy in this setting is still unclear.Case presentationWe present the case of a 37-year-old woman diagnosed with a FIGO stage IIIB micropapillary borderline ovarian tumor involving both ovaries, with invasive implants on the surface of the right ovary and fallopian tube, as well as diffuse non-invasive desmoplastic implants at other peritoneal sites. The patient underwent debulking fertility-sparing surgery (FSS), resulting in pelvic residual disease (RD). Given the advanced stage, histopathologic features, and the patient’s reproductive goals, six cycles of adjuvant carboplatin chemotherapy were administered. After the patient decided not to pursue further fertility preservation, completion surgery was performed, revealing a complete pathological response with no microscopic RD.ConclusionsThis case illustrates an advanced-stage micropapillary serous BOT in which complete pathological response was obtained after upfront FSS and adjuvant carboplatin chemotherapy. This outcome is noteworthy and hypothesis-generating, as the benefit of chemotherapy in this setting remains controversial in the literature.
Related
- PD‐1 Inhibitor (Sintilimab) Combined With Chemotherapy as Neoadjuvant Therapy in Advanced Ovarian Cancer: A Case Report
- Rapid disease progression during adjuvant chemotherapy following concurrent chemoradiotherapy and radical resection for rectal sarcomatoid carcinoma: a case report and literature review
- Therapeutic outcomes and prognostic determinants of neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus interval debulking surgery compared with primary debulking surgery in advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer
- Villoglandular Adenocarcinoma of the Cervix With Ovarian Metastasis Mimicking a Borderline Ovarian Tumor: A Rare Case Report.
- Host Determinants of Adjuvant Chemotherapy Initiation and Survival in Upper Gastrointestinal Adenocarcinoma
BibTeX
@article{corti2026role,
title = {{Any role for adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced-stage borderline ovarian tumors? A case report and review of the literature}},
author = {Jasmine Corti and Tommaso Bianchi and Marta Jaconi and Giorgia Pecis Cavagna and Teresa Aiolfi and Tommaso Grassi and Gaetano Trezzi and Stefania Chiari and Alessandra Casiraghi and Andrea Alberto Lissoni and Robert Fruscio},
journal = {Frontiers in Oncology},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fonc.2026.1822209},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2026.1822209},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Any role for adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced-stage borderline ovarian tumors? A case report and review of the literature
AU - Jasmine Corti
AU - Tommaso Bianchi
AU - Marta Jaconi
AU - Giorgia Pecis Cavagna
AU - Teresa Aiolfi
AU - Tommaso Grassi
AU - Gaetano Trezzi
AU - Stefania Chiari
AU - Alessandra Casiraghi
AU - Andrea Alberto Lissoni
AU - Robert Fruscio
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/12
JO - Frontiers in Oncology
DO - 10.3389/fonc.2026.1822209
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2026.1822209
AB - BackgroundBorderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) typically affect young women; therefore, fertility preservation is a major concern in their management. Fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) is considered the standard of care for BOTs, regardless of disease stage. However, its oncologic safety remains debated, and the role of chemotherapy in this setting is still unclear.Case presentationWe present the case of a 37-year-old woman diagnosed with a FIGO stage IIIB micropapillary borderline ovarian tumor involving both ovaries, with invasive implants on the surface of the right ovary and fallopian tube, as well as diffuse non-invasive desmoplastic implants at other peritoneal sites. The patient underwent debulking fertility-sparing surgery (FSS), resulting in pelvic residual disease (RD). Given the advanced stage, histopathologic features, and the patient’s reproductive goals, six cycles of adjuvant carboplatin chemotherapy were administered. After the patient decided not to pursue further fertility preservation, completion surgery was performed, revealing a complete pathological response with no microscopic RD.ConclusionsThis case illustrates an advanced-stage micropapillary serous BOT in which complete pathological response was obtained after upfront FSS and adjuvant carboplatin chemotherapy. This outcome is noteworthy and hypothesis-generating, as the benefit of chemotherapy in this setting remains controversial in the literature.
SN - 2234-943X
ER -