Ovarian Cancer Therapy

The National Cancer Institute estimates that in the United States, there will be 21,550 new diagnoses of ovarian cancer in 2009. Types of ovarian cancer include epithelial ovarian cancer, in which the cancer starts in the tissues of the ovary, and germ cell tumors, in which the cancer arises in the egg cells. There are several different kinds of treatments for ovarian cancer, and other treatments are being studied for use in the future.

Surgery

• The majority of patients with ovarian cancer have surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible. There are several different kinds of surgery for this disease. A total hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus and cervix, and it may be performed with or without a bilateral or unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which is removal of both fallopian tubes and ovaries, or one fallopian tube and ovary, respectively. Removal of the omentum, or piece of the abdominal lining, may be performed, as well as the removal of several lymph nodes to check for cancer.

Radiation Therapy

• Radiation is used to treat many types of cancer, including ovarian cancer. In fact, 50 to 60 percent of people diagnosed with cancer will be treated with radiation therapy at some point. This involves using high-dose radiation to kill cancer cells, and can either be done with external beams, or with internal methods. For ovarian cancer, intraperitoneal radiation therapy is occasionally used, a process in which radioactive liquid is placed into the abdomen through a catheter.

Chemotherapy

• Chemotherapy is a systemic therapy, which means it works throughout the body and is not just centered on the area of cancer. Chemotherapy can be given orally or intravenously. For some women with ovarian cancer, intraperitoneal chemotherapy is given. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is when chemotherapy is administered directly into the abdomen through a tube. While this is effective it may also increase side effects. A common combination that is used for ovarian cancer is a platinum-based drug like carboplatin, with paclitaxel (brand name Taxol). The mode of administration depends on the patient, the stage of the cancer and the type of ovarian cancer.

Future Directions

• There are several new treatments for ovarian cancer that are being studied in clinical trials. Biologic therapy, or therapy that works with the immune system to fight the cancer, is one of these new treatments. Another new option that is being tested is targeted therapies. These drugs target just the cancer cells, and not healthy ones, so side effects are lessened. If you are interested in learning more about clinical trials, talk to your doctor about possibly participating.

Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

• Since treatment for ovarian cancer varies depending on the stage of the cancer, treatment for cancer that has recurred is slightly different. Options include chemotherapy and possibly more surgery, a surgery that is part of a clinical trial or a clinical trial combining biologic therapy with anticancer drugs.