Ovarian malignancy.
Despite major advances in the management of ovarian cancer over the last two decades, overall prognosis remains poor. Attempts to improve early detection by screening with sonography and tumor markers have thus far been unsuccessful. The tumor marker CA-125 has, however, proven to be useful in indicating responsiveness to chemotherapy, and in turn predicts survival. Patients with well- or moderately well-differentiated stage IA-1 and IB-1 ovarian cancers have excellent survivals and do not require adjuvant therapy. In contrast, patients with poorly differentiated stage I and II tumors have a 20% failure rate and should be treated. Carboplatinum, with its favorable spectrum of toxicities, is becoming the platinum analogue of choice. Taxol is a new active agent for ovarian cancer and may prove efficacious in combination with platinum for ovarian cancer. Second-look surgery should no longer be performed routinely. Recent data suggest that tumor heterogeneity may compromise immunotherapy that targets cell surface antigens.
Niloff
J M
JM
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA 02215.
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor