Rethinking ovarian cancer III: the past decade and future directions

Approximately 80% of deaths from ovarian cancer are due to high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), which has the highest proportion of BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/BRCA2) mutations of any cancer type and is a highly chromosomally unstable disease. Despite the introduction of targeted therapies benefitting some patients with HGSC as well as surgical advances, only 50% of patients will survive more than 5 years, and just 30% of patients who present with advanced disease without BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations will survive this long. This Expert Recommendation is based on discussions among emerging and leading ovarian cancer researchers at the 15th Helene Harris Memorial Trust International Forum on ovarian cancer hosted by Ovarian Cancer Action in October 2024. The meeting considered advances in HGSC research and treatment made over the last decade, current challenges, emerging technologies in prevention, early detection, and treatment, and research priorities for the years ahead.