Ovarian Cancer

Commonly known as the "silent killer," ovarian cancer leads to approximately 15,000 deaths each year in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. Approximately 20,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, with the majority in patients diagnosed with late stage disease where the cancer has spread beyond the ovary. The prognosis is poor in these patients, leading to the high mortality from this disease. A diagnostic test is needed that can provide adequate predictive value to stratify patients with a pelvic mass into high risk of invasive ovarian cancer versus those with low risk, as well as a screening test for the diagnosis of early-stage ovarian cancer, which is essential for improving overall survival in patients. Ovarian cancer has up to a 90% cure rate following surgery and/or chemotherapy if detected in stage 1.

What are the Ovaries?

The ovaries are a pair of organs in the female reproductive system that produce eggs and female hormones.

Ovarian Cancer

Who Gets Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis, Prevention

Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Ovarian Cancer and Genetics

Oophorectomy for Ovarian Cancer

Latest Ovarian Cancer News and Research

Study uncovers how resistance to chemotherapies may occur in some cancers

Investigators at Mass General Brigham have uncovered how resistance to chemotherapies may occur in some cancers. Researchers focused on a pathway that harnesses reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill cancer cells.

28 Mar 2025

Scientists link emulsifiers in processed foods to allergy and immune disorders

Review identifies common food additives in ultra-processed foods—particularly emulsifiers like carrageenan and polysorbate 80—as key drivers of gut dysbiosis, inflammation, and allergic diseases by disrupting intestinal barriers and activating proinflammatory pathways.

26 Mar 2025

Nanotechnology innovation aims to improve breast cancer treatment

University of Queensland researchers are designing nanotechnology they believe could improve how we treat the most aggressive form of breast cancer.

24 Mar 2025

Oophorectomy linked to higher risk of heart failure in women

Women of childbearing age who had both ovaries removed, in a procedure called bilateral oophorectomy, were more likely to develop heart failure later in life, according to a study being presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.25).

20 Mar 2025

Uniquely-shaped magnetic nanoparticles offer breakthrough in cancer therapy

New magnetic nanoparticles in the shape of a cube sandwiched between two pyramids represent a breakthrough for treating ovarian tumors and possibly other types of cancer, according to the Oregon State University researchers who developed them.

19 Mar 2025

New research reveals potential path forward for glioblastoma treatment

Glioblastoma has remained one of the toughest cancers to treat, resisting even the latest advances in immunotherapy.

17 Mar 2025

Pitt study uncovers a novel trigger of deadly form of ovarian cancer

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have identified a novel trigger of a deadly form of ovarian cancer: a subset of progenitor cells that reside in fallopian tube supportive tissue, or stroma.

14 Mar 2025

Ovarian cancer mutations across populations show similarities and unique differences

An extensive tumor genomic analysis of individuals with ovarian cancer, led by researchers from Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U) and Emory University, revealed that Black women have nearly identical mutations to other previously studied populations.

10 Mar 2025

Walking more steps and exercise linked to lower risk of death in postmenopausal cancer survivors

Among postmenopausal women with a history of cancer, taking more daily steps and engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were both associated with a significantly reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2025.

10 Mar 2025

Mediterranean diet reduces risk of obesity-related cancers

Greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a modest reduction in obesity-related cancer risk

2 Mar 2025

Future of cancer coverage for women federal firefighters uncertain under Trump

It took nearly three years to win presumptive workers' compensation coverage for breast, cervical, and other cancers that firefighters who work for federal agencies may develop because of hazardous exposures on the job.

28 Feb 2025

Exploring the dual role of LKB1 in tumor suppression and promotion

Mutations in serine-threonine kinase 11 (STK11) and liver kinase B1 (LKB1) are associated with disease progression in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), which can progress to cancer.

22 Feb 2025

Promising ovarian cancer blood test to begin trials at UQ

Clinical trials of a simple and accurate blood test to detect early-stage ovarian cancer – key to boosting survival rates – will begin at The University of Queensland this year.

18 Feb 2025

New discovery could overcome immune therapy failure in ovarian cancer

University of Virginia Cancer Center researchers have explained the failure of immune checkpoint therapy for ovarian cancer by discovering how gut bacteria interfere with the treatment.

12 Feb 2025

Contraceptive pill could help reduce risk of ovarian cancer, study suggests

Screening for risk factors of ovarian cancer using artificial intelligence, UniSA researchers found that the oral contraceptive pill reduced the risk of ovarian cancer by 26% among women who had ever used the Pill, and by 43% for women who had used the Pill after the age of 45.

10 Feb 2025

Insilico Medicine develops highly selective FGFR2/3 dual inhibitor for cancer treatment

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are critical drivers of oncogenesis in various solid tumors, including urothelial carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, ovarian cancer and lung adenocarcinoma.

7 Feb 2025

Could the contraceptive pill reduce risk of ovarian cancer?

It’s a little pill with big responsibilities. But despite its primary role to prevent pregnancy, the contraceptive pill (or ‘the Pill’) could also help reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, according to new research from the University of South Australia.

From University of South Australia 3 Feb 2025

Chemotherapy linked to persistent nerve pain in 4 in 10 cancer patients

Worldwide, cancer chemotherapy is linked to persistent severe peripheral nerve pain (neuropathy) for around 4 in every 10 patients treated with these drugs, suggests a pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published in the open access journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.

29 Jan 2025

Real-world effectiveness and safety of olaparib in HRD-positive BRCA wild-type ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer, a deadly gynecologic malignancy, has seen a significant shift in its treatment paradigm with the introduction of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, which are now standard in the maintenance setting following first-line chemotherapy.

23 Jan 2025

Tiny vesicles offer powerful new approach for cancer treatment

A new twist on a decades-old anticancer strategy has shown powerful effects against multiple cancer types in a preclinical study from researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

16 Jan 2025