Treatment of ovarian cancer: From the past to the new era (Review)

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal malignancy among female genital cancers, primarily due to the non-specific symptoms, late-stage diagnosis and poor prognosis. Thus, there is a need for accurate and precise diagnostic methods to improve overall survival rates. The aim of the present review was to provide a comprehensive overview of ovarian cancer, including its epidemiology, clinical presentation, etiology, risk factors, staging and diagnostic techniques, in addition to examining the therapeutic approaches, including cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant treatments, while highlighting the mechanisms of resistance to such interventions. Advancements in molecular profiling and a deeper understanding of ovarian tumorigenesis have led to the introduction of novel therapeutic agents currently in clinical use or under clinical investigation. These innovations may improve the management of ovarian cancer, potentially improving survival outcomes.

Keywords: chemotherapy; ovarian cancer; re-purposing therapy; resistance; targeted therapy.

Figure 1.

Ovarian cancer treatment flow chart. Treatment for (A) initial and (B) recurrent ovarian cancer. HRD, homologous recombination deficiency; PD-L1, programmed death ligand 1; PARP, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase.