Learn about new treatments for ovarian cancer

The therapeutic approach to ovarian cancer depends on the histological type and stage of diagnosis.

• The treatment of ovarian cancer usually begins with surgery, which has two main goals: diagnosis and treatment. Due to the characteristics of this type of neoplasm, when its presence is suspected, it is necessary to intervene surgically to confirm the diagnosis and determine the type and extent of the tumor. This intervention, called optimal surgery, involves the surgical removal of the entire visible tumor, which is considered a treatment. Subsequently, the findings during surgery will determine whether it is necessary to complement the treatment with chemotherapy.

• Chemotherapy is an adjuvant treatment to surgery in ovarian cancer. It can be administered beforehand to reduce the tumor size and after surgery if surgery is not feasible. It can also be combined with radiotherapy. It is used in early and advanced stages except in some very early-stage tumors, with favorable characteristics, where surgery alone may be sufficient.

• Hormone therapy uses hormone-blocking drugs to fight cancer. It is occasionally used in epithelial ovarian cancer and, more frequently, in stromal ovarian tumors. It is an option for certain types of slow-growing ovarian cancers and may also be considered if the cancer recurs after initial treatment.

• Radiation therapy uses X-rays or high-energy particles to destroy cancer cells. Although it is rarely the primary treatment for ovarian cancer, it can be helpful in treating areas where cancer has spread near the main tumor or in distant organs such as the brain or spinal cord.

In many cases, participating in a clinical trial may be the best therapeutic option. These studies have a significant impact on the treatment of the primary tumor, metastases and even the prevention of recurrences, such as PARP inhibitors that have been studied over the last decade to prevent the recurrence of the disease.