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Ovarian epithelial cancer, fallopian tube cancer, and primary peritoneal cancer are collectively referred to as ovarian cancer due to their shared tissue origin and similar treatment approaches. According to S. John Weroha, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic oncologist and chair of the Gynecologic Cancer Disease Group, these cancers often present diagnostic challenges due to their anatomical proximity and overlapping characteristics.
Primary peritoneal cancer forms in the lining of the abdominal cavity, while fallopian tube cancer develops in the tubes connecting the ovaries to the uterus. About 85%–90% of ovarian cancers are epithelial ovarian carcinomas, arising from the outer tissue of the ovaries.
Dr. Weroha highlights the emergence of innovative treatments that are transforming outcomes for ovarian cancer patients:
Targeted Therapies
- Monoclonal Antibodies: Drugs like Bevacizumab inhibit blood vessel growth to tumors. Another drug, mirvetuximab soravtansine recently approved by the FDA, targets folate receptors on cancer cells, doubling response rates compared to traditional treatments.
- PARP Inhibitors: Olaparib is an example of a PARP inhibitor used to prevent recurrence in people with ovarian cancer whose tumors have BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations. Research has shown that olaparib can significantly improve survival without recurrence in people with this diagnosis.
Future Developments
- Cancer Vaccine: Matthew Block, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic medical oncologist, and Keith Knutson, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic researcher, are developing a vaccine to prevent cancer recurrence. The vaccine will be given in combination with an immunotherapy drug called pembrolizumab to identify and kill any tumors that don't respond to the dendritic cells.
- Screening Innovation: Jamie Bakkum-Gamez, M.D., a Mayo Clinic gynecologic oncologist, is researching methylated DNA markers in vaginal fluid for a potential home-based screening test, with the potential to detect endometrial cancer early. Eventually, this same science could extend to ovarian cancer.
"This is exciting because this type of screening test can be used by people living in rural areas,” says Dr. Weroha. “If it's successful, it could help healthcare professionals identify ovarian and other gynecologic cancers sooner, when they're more treatable, in people living in all the communities we serve.”
Dr. Weroha advises ovarian cancer patients to seek care from gynecologic oncologists and explore clinical trials for access to cutting-edge treatments. "There is a realistic hope for better treatments in the future, even if your cancer recurs," he says.
Learn more
Learn more about ovarian cancer and find a clinical trial at Mayo Clinic.
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