key: cord-0849097-09ubsq2k
authors: Tranoulis, Anastasios; Georgiou, Dimitra
title: Challenges and management options of tubo-ovarian cancer during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
date: 2020-06-30
journal: Eur J Surg Oncol
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2020.06.043
sha: d5c19bda10ecf47429bedccee03fd0ed9cc8dde2
doc_id: 849097
cord_uid: 09ubsq2k

nan

With more than 40.000 deaths, United Kingdom (UK) has recently overtaken Italy as the country with the highest number of SARS-CoV-2 related deaths in Europe. London is currently the worst affected region of the UK, followed by the North West, and then the South East. The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak and the rapid spread of the disease have led to an enormous burden over NHS. The dramatic increase of affected individuals requiring hospital-based care, has forced to set up new intensive care units (ICUs) and to establish dedicated SARS-CoV-2 wards.

Notably, many gynaecological oncology centres have been established as some of the most important SARS-CoV-2 hospitals during the pandemic. These unprecedented circumstances have posed an ethical challenge to multidisciplinary teams, considering the frail equilibrium between optimal oncological outcome and patients's safety. Subsequently, elective surgery for gynaecological malignancies has markedly decreased, to relatively minimise exposure to SARS-CoV-2 risk and increase the ICU availability. This is particularly relevant for the management of tubo-ovarian cancer.

To date, there is no clear evidence concerning the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on tubo-ovarian cancer care. Generally, cancer patients are seemingly at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection owing to the underlying immunosuppression. Evidence deriving from small retrospective studies suggests that infected cancer patients are at higher risk of death [1] . Moreover, co-morbidities should also be taken into consideration, as the existence of three or more co-morbidities increases the mortality rate up to approximately 50% amongst cancer populations [2] . On the other hand, a potential SARS-CoV-2 infection could lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment; hence, compromising the oncological outcome.

Considering the uncertainty, as to the optimal tubo-ovarian cancer management, professional bodies have put in place recommendations to guide clinicians prioritise ovarian cancer care [3] . The general guiding principle of these recommendations is the adoption of a "do no harm" approach. Surgi-cal decision making should be based upon the stage and type of the disease, co-morbidities, and logistic challenges, including ICU availability and access to chemotherapy services. To this end, we have adopted our strategy to stratify women for whom surgery is time-critical and those for whom surgical management could be deferred. The latter applies to FIGO stage III/IV tubo-ovarian cancer women, who are currently being treated with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Primary cytoreduction for advanced tubo-ovarian cancer usually includes radical/ultra-radical cytoreduction associated with prolonged operative time, risk of major blood loss/transfusion, risk of infection, or admission to ICU [4] . On the other hand, NACT followed by delayed cytoreduction is associated with decreased post-surgical morbidity [4] .

According to the cases treated using the 'do no harm' principle, we believe that the following situations should be considered for surgery: (1) To conclude, the effects of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic can be mitigated to a certain degree for patients with ovarian cancer, by adopting a careful and individualised triage and treatment management. A rigorous counseling concerning the risk of undergoing surgery during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic should be done, whilst the national and international health bodies recommendations will supportively guide clinicians prioritise ovarian cancer care. Implementation of ERAS protocols could offer faster recovery, shorter length of stay and reduced post-operative complications, thus reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and increasing the availability of the resources during this time of global crisis.

None

Clinical characteristics of COVID-19-infected cancer patients: a retrospective case study in three hospitals within Wuhan

Case Fatality Rate and Characteristics of Patients Dying in Relation to COVID-19 in Italy

COVID-19 Global Pandemic: Options for Management of Gynecological Cancers

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Versus Debulking Surgery in Advanced Tubo-Ovarian Cancers: Pooled Analysis of Individual Patient Data From the EORTC 55971 and CHORUS Trials