Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer (OC) is the deadliest of all gynecological cancers in the Western world. This is due to the vagueness of symptoms and lack of reliable screening test. Patients are often diagnosed when they got with advanced or late-stage diseases (stage III or IV), that means 5-year survival rate is less than 20%. While 5-year survival rate for people diagnosed with early-stage (Stage I or II) is up to 90%. Approximately 80% of ovarian cancer arises from the epithelium (surface cells), 10-15% of germ cells, and 5-10% of stromal cells.In epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is divided into 4 subtypes, serous, endometrioid, clear cell, and mucinous. Recently, EOC has been broadly classified into 2 distinct types. Type I includes low-grade serous carcinoma (LGSC), endometrioid, clear cell, mucinous, transitional cell carcinomas (TCC), and less responsiveness to chemotherapy. Type II includes high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), undifferentiated carcinomas, and carcinosarcomas responsiveness to chemotherapy. Event current early diagnostic tests are available including the CA125 blood test and transvaginal ultrasound but there is limitation in terms of accuracy. Debulking surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy schemes is considered as standard treatment for patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer. However, about 80% of patients relapsed, and became resistant to chemotherapy remain a major challenge of this cancer. Improving reliable screening test and surveillance of chemotherapy-resistant have been required.
Last Updated on: Nov 27, 2024