How is ovarian cancer treated?

Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
Updated on September 08, 2024
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Our treatment principle is that once an ovarian tumor is detected, surgical treatment should be performed. First and foremost, we need to confirm the diagnosis. Second, we should clarify the pathological staging of the ovarian cancer to guide the treatment. It's not a single approach; it's a comprehensive treatment plan. For example, if it is early stage and there are no surgical contraindications, we can proceed with surgical treatment. After the surgery, we can provide adjunctive chemotherapy. If surgery is not immediately feasible, we can also provide neoadjuvant therapy to reduce the stage before proceeding with ovarian cancer surgery. Moreover, there is now targeted therapy and immunotherapy for ovarian cancer, so it is a comprehensive treatment plan.

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Ovarian Cancer Screening Methods

The methods for diagnosing ovarian cancer include imaging studies, such as ultrasonography of the adnexa of the uterus, abdominal CT, or MRI, which can detect ovarian tumors. The next step is to perform a blood test for the tumor marker CA125, which is a relatively specific and sensitive marker for epithelial ovarian cancer; in clinical practice, CA125 levels are generally significantly elevated in patients with ovarian cancer. Additionally, many patients with ovarian cancer, especially those in advanced stages, often develop significant ascites. We can perform abdominal paracentesis to drain the fluid and test the ascites for cancer cells. If cancer cells are found in the ascites and imaging studies reveal an ovarian mass, ovarian cancer can be diagnosed. Furthermore, chest CT and other tests are included to comprehensively assess the staging of the patient.

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How is ovarian cancer screened?

The most commonly used screening method for ovarian cancer is the B-ultrasound examination of the adnexa uteri. The B-ultrasound can detect ovarian masses and tumors, and when these are found, the possibility of ovarian cancer should be considered, necessitating further examinations for confirmation. Another method involves the tumor marker CA125, which is relatively sensitive and specific for epithelial ovarian cancer. Therefore, for ovarian cancer screening, we can perform a blood test for CA125 in conjunction with a B-ultrasound of the adnexa uteri.

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ovarian cancer specific drug

Ovarian cancer does not have any specific cure-all treatment. Most ovarian cancers are epithelial ovarian cancers, and there is also ovarian cancer resulting from malignant germ cells, which is a rarer pathology type. For epithelial ovarian cancer, treatment methods include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and some targeted therapies, mainly using Bevacizumab, which is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits angiogenesis, and is usually used in combination with chemotherapy drugs. For patients with advanced ovarian cancer, those who are resistant to chemotherapy, or those in poor general health unable to endure chemotherapy, palliative treatments like hormone treatment using progestogens are an option, along with immune therapy being available nowadays. Surgery is primarily for early-stage ovarian cancer patients, where curative surgical resection is possible, or for debulking surgery in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Chemotherapy is frequently used as it is relatively effective for epithelial ovarian cancer, a type of cancer that is somewhat sensitive to such treatments. The drugs used mainly include taxane combined with platinum-based chemotherapy. For intravenous administration or intraperitoneal delivery—for the latter, mainly for ovarian cancers complicated by extensive ascites—, positioning an abdominal drainage tube and then infusing platinum-based chemotherapy drugs into the abdominal cavity are utilized.

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Oncology
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Does ovarian cancer hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy work?

Patients with ovarian cancer are prone to peritoneal metastasis, so many patients develop ascites during the discovery of the disease or its progression. A large amount of ascites is a common concurrent symptom in patients with ovarian cancer. For patients with significant ascites like this, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can be performed, which involves infusing chemotherapy drugs into the abdominal cavity and then combining it with thermotherapy. This treatment generally has a decent effect, especially in controlling the spread of cancer cells in the peritoneum and managing ascites.

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Is ovarian cancer hereditary?

The onset of ovarian cancer may be somewhat related to family history or genetic factors. Therefore, patients with a family history of ovarian cancer may have a higher risk of developing the disease compared to the general population. However, this doesn't mean that a patient with ovarian cancer will definitely pass the condition to their offspring; it merely indicates a certain level of heredity. Furthermore, for those with a family history of breast cancer, colon cancer, and endometrial cancer, it is crucial for their descendants to undergo enhanced screenings for ovarian cancer and these diseases, as their risk of developing these conditions may be higher than that of the average person.