July/August 2019 | Stephanie Lheureux, MD, PhD; Marsela Braunstein, MSc, PhD; Amit M. Oza, MD
Epithelial ovarian cancer is the second most common cause of gynecologic cancer death worldwide, with poor outcomes due to late diagnosis, diverse subtypes, and inconsistent treatment access. Current management includes debulking surgery, platinum-based chemotherapy, and antiangiogenic agents for advanced disease. PARP inhibitors, approved for BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations, have improved maintenance therapy. Precision medicine is transforming care through molecular profiling, enabling personalized treatment selection. Clinical trials are prioritizing innovative therapies and refining biomarkers to guide chemotherapy, targeted agents, and immunotherapy. A coordinated approach is essential to improve survival and change care paradigms.
Ovarian cancer survival remains low, with 47% 5-year survival, compared to 85% for breast cancer. Early-stage disease is curable, but most women present with stage III/IV disease. Surgery and chemotherapy remain mainstays, with clinical trials shaping international guidelines. BRCA mutations are common in ovarian cancer, with 14-18% of patients having germline mutations. Genetic testing is recommended for first-degree relatives of BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers.
High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most common subtype, with BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations linked to hereditary cases. HGSOC is associated with TP53 mutations and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), making it responsive to PARP inhibitors. Molecular subtypes, such as immunoreactive and mesenchymal, influence prognosis. Gene expression studies have identified prognostic subtypes, with immunoreactive subtype associated with better survival.
Low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) is less common, with BRAF or KRAS mutations. It is often estrogen receptor-positive and responds to hormonal therapy. Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is associated with endometriosis and mutations in SWI/SNF, PI3K/Akt, and RTK/Ras pathways. Endometrioid ovarian cancer is linked to Lynch syndrome and WNT/β-catenin signaling. Mucinous ovarian cancer is rare, with KRAS mutations and HER2 amplification.
Surgery is critical for staging and debulking, with primary debulking surgery (PDS) and interval debulking surgery (IDS) being options. Secondary debulking surgery is considered for platinum-sensitive recurrence. Systemic therapy has evolved from single-agent chemotherapy to combination therapies, including PARP inhibitors and bevacizumab. Bevacizumab improves PFS and OS in recurrent disease, particularly in platinum-sensitive cases. Combination with PARP inhibitors is being investigated in trials like PAOLA-1.
Chemotherapy regimens include carboplatin and paclitaxel, with dose-dense schedules and intraperitoneal (IP) administration. IP chemotherapy has shown benefits in some studies, though toxicity remains a concern. HyperEpithelial ovarian cancer is the second most common cause of gynecologic cancer death worldwide, with poor outcomes due to late diagnosis, diverse subtypes, and inconsistent treatment access. Current management includes debulking surgery, platinum-based chemotherapy, and antiangiogenic agents for advanced disease. PARP inhibitors, approved for BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations, have improved maintenance therapy. Precision medicine is transforming care through molecular profiling, enabling personalized treatment selection. Clinical trials are prioritizing innovative therapies and refining biomarkers to guide chemotherapy, targeted agents, and immunotherapy. A coordinated approach is essential to improve survival and change care paradigms.
Ovarian cancer survival remains low, with 47% 5-year survival, compared to 85% for breast cancer. Early-stage disease is curable, but most women present with stage III/IV disease. Surgery and chemotherapy remain mainstays, with clinical trials shaping international guidelines. BRCA mutations are common in ovarian cancer, with 14-18% of patients having germline mutations. Genetic testing is recommended for first-degree relatives of BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers.
High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most common subtype, with BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations linked to hereditary cases. HGSOC is associated with TP53 mutations and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), making it responsive to PARP inhibitors. Molecular subtypes, such as immunoreactive and mesenchymal, influence prognosis. Gene expression studies have identified prognostic subtypes, with immunoreactive subtype associated with better survival.
Low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) is less common, with BRAF or KRAS mutations. It is often estrogen receptor-positive and responds to hormonal therapy. Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is associated with endometriosis and mutations in SWI/SNF, PI3K/Akt, and RTK/Ras pathways. Endometrioid ovarian cancer is linked to Lynch syndrome and WNT/β-catenin signaling. Mucinous ovarian cancer is rare, with KRAS mutations and HER2 amplification.
Surgery is critical for staging and debulking, with primary debulking surgery (PDS) and interval debulking surgery (IDS) being options. Secondary debulking surgery is considered for platinum-sensitive recurrence. Systemic therapy has evolved from single-agent chemotherapy to combination therapies, including PARP inhibitors and bevacizumab. Bevacizumab improves PFS and OS in recurrent disease, particularly in platinum-sensitive cases. Combination with PARP inhibitors is being investigated in trials like PAOLA-1.
Chemotherapy regimens include carboplatin and paclitaxel, with dose-dense schedules and intraperitoneal (IP) administration. IP chemotherapy has shown benefits in some studies, though toxicity remains a concern. Hyper