In Poland ovarian cancer is on fifth place regarding morbidity and fourth most common cause of cancer-related death in women. Surgical cytoreduction followed by paclitaxel and platinum-based chemotherapy is standard of care in advanced ovarian cancer. The aim of this study was to assess, if optimal surgical cytoreduction is an independent prognostic factor in this group of patients. Clinical data of 358 women with FIGO stage III ovarian cancer treated in Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre – Institute, Warsaw, between 1995 and 1999 were assessed. Primary endpoint was PFS. Multivariable analysis showed that optimal surgical cytoreduction was not independent prognostic factor. Optimal surgery was statistically less frequently performed in older patients (p=0.06; borderline statistical significance), FIGO stage III C and patients with performance status 1 or 2 according to WHO criteria (p<0.001). Grade and FIGO stage were identified as independent prognostic factors for PFS. Median PFS were 11.4 and 5.7 months in optimally and suboptimally cytoreduced group respectively. We conclude that optimal surgical cytoreduction was not independent prognostic factor in this group of patients because there was correlation between surgical resectability and certain clinical factors.