The management of ovarian carcinoma

Interest in the management of ovarian cancer is still high and research headed to improve survival rates, particularly in case of advanced disease. The outcomes of screening and its potential effects in stage shift and impact on mortality is of great importance. The actual timing of primary radical surgery in advanced disease has been addressed in two large studies, which essentially also investigate the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This may open a new approach to therapy, but the outcomes of these studies should still provide the evidence to support this approach. The same case can be made in relation to managing relapsed disease. Without doubt, the future interventions in women with ovarian cancer, in terms of surgery and chemotherapeutic approaches, will evolve in a more accurate individualisation of therapy, so that, some account of the tumour biology is inherent within the decisions as to the optimum treatments.