ovariecancer

Ovarian cancer is a group of malignant tumors that originate in the ovaries or nearby structures. It is the most lethal of the gynecologic cancers because it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. The disease encompasses several histologic types, the most common being epithelial carcinomas, with less frequent germ cell and sex-cord stromal tumors.

Incidence rises with age and varies by region; lifetime risk is low for the general population but substantially higher for carriers of inherited mutations such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 and for some families with Lynch syndrome. Other risk factors include nulliparity, endometriosis, hormone replacement therapy, obesity, and certain reproductive histories, while use of combined oral contraceptives is associated with reduced risk.

Symptoms are frequently vague and may include persistent abdominal bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, early satiety, urinary urgency or frequency, and changes in bowel habits. Because these signs are non-specific, diagnosis often requires imaging (transvaginal ultrasound, CT) and measurement of tumor markers such as CA-125, with definitive diagnosis based on histopathology obtained during surgery.

Staging follows the FIGO system and guides management. Standard treatment for many epithelial cases combines cytoreductive surgery with platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy; targeted therapies (for example PARP inhibitors for BRCA-mutated tumors) and angiogenesis inhibitors are increasingly used. Prognosis depends primarily on stage at diagnosis and tumor biology.

There is no effective population-wide screening test; high-risk individuals may be offered genetic counseling and risk-reducing surgery. Ongoing research focuses on early detection, targeted agents, and immunotherapies.