High-grade ovarian carcinoma (FIGO stage 3C). Surgery resulted in no

Clinical answer with reasoning, red flags and references. Clinically reviewed by Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGP.

Posted: 12 June 2026Updated: 12 June 2026 Clinically Reviewed
Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGPClinical Lead • iatroX

Prognosis for a patient with high-grade ovarian carcinoma (FIGO stage IIIc) who has undergone surgery with no macroscopic residual tumour and received standard therapy with paclitaxel, carboplatin, and bevacizumab:


Achieving complete macroscopic cytoreduction (no visible residual tumour) is the strongest prognostic factor for improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in advanced high-grade ovarian carcinoma, including FIGO stage IIIc disease ,,.


Standard adjuvant chemotherapy for such patients consists of carboplatin and paclitaxel for six cycles, to which bevacizumab can be added as part of first-line therapy, especially in patients with high-risk disease such as stage III with residual tumour or stage IV ,,.


The addition of bevacizumab to carboplatin and paclitaxel significantly improves median PFS from approximately 16.9 months to 19.3 months, with a hazard ratio of 0.86 favoring the combination, reflecting a statistically significant benefit (p=0.0185) ,. However, bevacizumab does not significantly impact median overall survival, which remains around 58 months ,.


In terms of long-term outcomes, a complete macroscopic resection followed by chemotherapy plus bevacizumab aligns with current best practice and provides a progression-free survival benefit, though overall survival improvement is less clear per trial data ,,.


Recent literature from a large European cohort supports the prognostic benefit of complete cytoreduction in FIGO stage IIIC–IV ovarian cancer and notes that while surgical complexity and certain bowel resections may increase morbidity, the absence of macroscopic residual disease is associated with improved survival outcomes.


However, small bowel and ileocecal resections—markers of more extensive disease involvement—are independently associated with poorer progression-free and overall survival, even if macroscopic complete resection is achieved . This indicates that extent and sites of disease spread beyond residual tumour size impact prognosis.


The median progression-free survival in advanced ovarian cancer treated with carboplatin, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab is approximately 19.3 months, while overall survival is around 58 months ,, but individual prognosis may vary based on disease distribution and patient factors.


Therefore, for a patient with high-grade ovarian carcinoma FIGO stage IIIc who has undergone optimal cytoreductive surgery with no residual tumour and received standard chemotherapy with paclitaxel, carboplatin, and bevacizumab, the prognosis is relatively favourable compared to patients with residual disease, with median PFS near 19 months and median OS near 58 months, although progression and survival can be influenced by disease burden and other clinical factors ,,,.

Key References

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