Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancers include cancers that begin in the epithelial cells that line the fallopian tubes or peritoneum as well as the ovaries, and they are collectively called epithelial ovarian cancers. Other types of ovarian cancer arise in other cells, including germ cell tumors, which start in the cells that make eggs, and stromal cell tumors, which start in supporting tissues.
General Information About Ovarian Epithelial, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer
KEY POINTS
- Ovarian epithelial cancer, fallopian tube cancer, and primary peritoneal cancer are diseases in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissue covering the ovary or lining the fallopian tube or peritoneum.
- Ovarian epithelial cancer, fallopian tube cancer, and primary peritoneal cancer form in the same type of tissue and are treated the same way.
- Women who have a family history of ovarian cancer are at an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
- Some ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers are caused by inherited gene mutations (changes).
- Women with an increased risk of ovarian cancer may consider surgery to lessen the risk.
- Signs and symptoms of ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer include pain or swelling in the abdomen.
- Tests that examine the ovaries and pelvic area are used to detect (find), diagnose, and stage ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancer.
- Certain factors affect treatment options and prognosis (chance of recovery).
Read the full article on the National Cancer Institute website.
General Information About Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors
KEY POINTS
- Ovarian germ cell tumor is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the germ (egg) cells of the ovary.
- Signs of ovarian germ cell tumor are swelling of the abdomen or vaginal bleeding after menopause.
- Tests that examine the ovaries, pelvic area, blood, and ovarian tissue are used to detect (find) and diagnose ovarian germ cell tumor.
- Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery and treatment options).
Read the full article on the National Cancer Institute website.
General Information About Ovarian Low Malignant Potential Tumors
KEY POINTS
- Ovarian low malignant potential tumor is a disease in which abnormal cells form in the tissue covering the ovary.
- Signs and symptoms of ovarian low malignant potential tumor include pain or swelling in the abdomen.
- Tests that examine the ovaries are used to detect (find), diagnose, and stage ovarian low malignant potential tumor.
- Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
Read the full article on the National Cancer Institute website.
Note: Patients in Ireland
If you’re having surgery you will be interested in these articles about the best hospital to attend:
Irish Examiner: Ovarian cancer sufferers 70% less likely to die after ‘aggressive surgery’ at Mater hospital
Irish Times: Big improvement in ovarian cancer outcomes at Mater hospital with aggressive surgical approach.
Other Treatments
High-grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSOC)
The anti-inflammatory drug Indomethacin increases survival in serous ovarian cancer patients according to this study. It found:
Indomethacin decreased survival of primary HGSOC tumor cells and interestingly, cisplatin resistant ovarian tumor cells…exhibited significantly higher cell death upon Indomethacin treatment.
Glycyrrhetinic acid
This study concluded that Glycyrrhetinic acid causes cell death in ovarian cancer cells by inducing apoptosis.
Beta-blockers (BB)
In conclusion, BB use was associated with better survival outcomes in ovarian cancer in cases of long-term use, in presence of hypertension, in cardiovascular and/or other underlying disease (CCI ≥3), and in older patients.
Beta-Blockers May Prolong Survival in Women With Ovarian Cancer
By The ASCO Post
In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers demonstrated a benefit in overall survival among patients with epithelial ovarian cancer receiving generic beta-blocker heart medications. Survival was shown to be greatest among those prescribed first-generation nonselective beta-blockers.
Key Points
- The research team found for patients receiving any beta-blocker, the median overall survival was 47.8 months, vs 42 months for nonusers.
- Median overall survival based on beta-blocker receptor selectivity was 94.9 months for those receiving nonselective beta-blockers, vs 38 months for those receiving selective beta-blockers.
- Even among patients with hypertension, a longer median overall survival was observed among users of nonselective beta-blockers compared with nonusers (90 months vs 38.2 months).
Personalised vaccines for ovarian cancer extend survival rate
Source: Figo.org
A study into the potential benefits of personalised vaccines to treat ovarian cancer in stage III and IV patients has found they can improve survival rates.
Scientists at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in Switzerland discovered that a new type of vaccine induces novel, potent and clinically effective immune responses in those with recurrent forms of the disease.
The personalised vaccine is created using processed cells from the patient’s own tumour and put straight into the immune cells.
Sufficient quantities can be manufactured easily and the therapy has been found to be well-tolerated without complications in the process of administering it.
Researchers observed that the immune response in those given the vaccines was vigorous and targeted known cancer antigens and neoantigens expressed by the patient’s cancer cells.
Lana Kandalaft, adjunct researcher at Ludwig Lausanne, said: “This is the first time ever that a personalised vaccine made from the contents of whole cancer cells has been shown to produce immune responses against neoantigens.
“We’ve also shown that these immune responses are not just any responses, but the type that kill tumour cells, and that they correlate with better progression-free survival and better overall survival of patients.”
Page updated 2024