Research directions in epithelial ovarian cancer

Major improvements in survival from ovarian cancer will likely result from a combined effort in prevention, diagnosis, screening, and treatment. Oral contraceptives can decrease the risk of ovarian cancer in women with a family history of the disease. Screening currently is not routinely recommended and awaits further refinements in tumor markers and image techniques. Surgery and chemotherapy have been the cornerstones of treatment for most patients with ovarian cancer. Paclitaxel plus a platinum compound has now become a new standard chemotherapy regimen. However, numerous clinical questions need to be explored in prospectively randomized trials to determine how best to use this agent. Basic research in ovarian cancer will likely lead to the novel therapeutic targets and completely new approaches.