Objective To predict the recurrence of ovarian cancer (OC), to analyze the efficacy and prognosis of recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC) patients.

Methods The clinical medical records of 93 ROC patients were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate analysis was performed on the influencing factors of disease free interval (DFI) in ROC patients. We evaluated the effect of different treatments on progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) after recurrence.

Results The single factor analysis of DFI after initial treatment showed that tumor differentiation, clinical stage, residual tumor size after initial surgery, and the number of chemotherapy courses after initial surgery were related to DFI (P < 0.05). Surgery group (n=44) were treated with secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS) with chemotherapy and (or) targeted therapy. Non-surgery group (n=49) were treated with chemotherapy and (or) targeted therapy. PFS and OS after recurrence in surgery group were longer than those in non-surgery group. In surgery group, the patients with CA125 ≤ 150 U/L had longer OS and PFS than those with CA125>150 U/L (P < 0.05); preoperative imaging examination showed that the OS and PFS of patients with recurrent tumors number ≤ 3 were longer than those with recurrent tumors number>3 (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Pathological differentiation, clinical stage, the chemotherapy course and the size of residual tumor after initial cytoreductive surgery are associated with DFI in recurrent ovarian cancer. ROC patients with recurrent tumors number ≤ 3 or CA125 ≤ 150 U/L could benefit from SCS.