Expanding the public health research agenda for ovarian cancer

Since the year 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has undertaken an active public health research agenda in ovarian cancer, focused mainly on research related to earlier recognition of symptoms, methods for earlier diagnosis, and optimization of treatment and end-of-life care. Much of this work was guided by external input from two workshops in 2000 and 2002 with ovarian cancer experts in clinical and epidemiological research, public health leaders from federal and state agencies, and ovarian cancer survivors. In November 2008, the CDC convened a third informal workshop of experts to comment on CDC's work to date and to help expand the public health research agenda for the future. The purpose of the workshop was to identify and discuss urgent and emerging issues related to ovarian cancer and how public health organizations, and specifically CDC, might address these issues through research. This article provides a summary of some of the issues discussed and potential areas for future research, including genetic, screening, and diagnostic tests for ovarian cancer; ways of improving the quality of care for patients; symptom recognition; public awareness; and other emerging issues related to ovarian cancer.