Facility level variation in the utilization of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with higher surgical morbidity for patients with advanced stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma

Investigate outcomes for advanced stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients based on facility-level utilization of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Stage III-IV EOC patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2016 were identified in the National Cancer Database. Percentage of patients managed with NACT was calculated for facilities, reporting ≥120 patients. Facilities with lowest and highest quartile of NACT rate comprised the low and high-utilizing groups. Clinico-pathological characteristics were collected, and appropriate statistical analysis performed. High- and low-utilizing facilities managed on average 54.1% and 25.4% of patients with NACT respectively. Patients managed at high-utilizing facilities were significantly more likely to be >65 (p = 0.029), have stage IV disease (p < 0.001) and comorbidities (p < 0.001). Patients managed with primary debulking surgery (PDS) at low-utilizing facilities were significantly more likely to be >65, have stage IV disease, and have comorbidities (all, p < 0.001). Patients undergoing PDS at low-utilizing facilities were significantly less likely to achieve complete gross resection (p < 0.001), and were significantly more likely to experience 90-day mortality (p < 0.001), and unplanned 30-day readmission (p < 0.001). After controlling for age, comorbidities, race, insurance status, stage, grade and histology, high-utilizing facilities trended towards better overall survival (OS) (HR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.85–0.99). Overall, patients undergoing PDS had better OS compared to those who had NACT (median 42 vs 27 months, p < 0.001). Despite treating an EOC population with more advanced disease and comorbidities, high-utilizing facilities have lower surgical morbidity and mortality with no detrimental impact on long-term survival. Careful patient selection to minimize the morbidity and mortality associated with PDS is pivotal. •Adoption of neoadjuvant chemotherapy among high-volume facilities varies.•Patients managed at low-adopting facilities experience higher surgical morbidity.•Inappropriate selection of patients for primary cytoreductive surgery is associated with worse oncologic outcomes.