New developments in the treatment of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer accounts for about 4% of all cancers in women in the United States, with over 23,000 cases diagnosed annually. Since patients often present with non-specific symptoms, diagnosis is generally made when disease has spread to the peritoneal cavity. Multi-modality therapy is established as the standard approach to treatment. Surgery remains a cornerstone of therapy for diagnosis, staging and treatment. Almost all patients receive some form of chemotherapy, either in the adjuvant setting or for locally advanced or advanced disease. The treatment of ovarian cancer has rapidly evolved in the past decade. Starting with the initial observation that alkylating agents were active in the treatment of this disease, new classes of agents have been rapidly incorporated in the therapeutic armamentarium. This has included the platinum compounds, taxanes and most recently, camptothecin derivatives, inhibitors of topoisomerase I. Much of the recent clinical research has revolved around how to incorporate these agents with surgery.