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The incidence of ovarian cancer varies according to geographical location. Western countries, including the United States, have rates approximately three to seven-fold greater than Japan, although the rate is higher in Japanese immigrants to the United States.

The mean age at diagnosis of ovarian cancer is younger among women with a hereditary ovarian cancer syndrome (BRCA or Lynch syndrome).

RISK FACTORS of Ovarian Cancer — The pathogenetic mechanism(s) that explains the link between many of the risk factors and development of ovarian cancer have not been determined. Two main hypotheses that have been proposed are:

· Repeated ovulation results in repeated minor trauma to the ovarian epithelium, which, in turn, can lead to malignant transformation. Support for this hypothesis is derived from the observation that women with periodic suppression of ovulation as a result of oral contraceptive use, pregnancy, or lactation have a lower incidence of ovarian cancer.

· Persistent ovarian exposure to gonadotropins and elevated estradiol concentrations may be carcinogenic. This hypothesis is supported by the observation that experimentally induced ovarian tumors contain gonadotropin receptors and estrogen can stimulate cell proliferation in cells containing estrogen receptors.

Reproductive and hormonal factors — Reproductive factors appear to play a role in the incidence of ovarian carcinogenesis. The risk of ovarian cancer appears to be increased by infertility, and reduced by oral contraceptive pills and multiparity.

Early menarche or late menopause — Early age of menarche (before age 12) or late age of menopause (after age 50) are associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Nulligravidity — Epidemiologic data suggest a protective effect of multiparity on the risk of EOC; and nulligravidity is a risk factor for the disease

Infertility — Infertility is a risk factor for ovarian cancer, but infertility treatment probably is not. The apparent association between fertility drug use and EOC appears to be related to the fact that infertile women are likely to have used ovulation-stimulating agents as part of their infertility treatment. However, all of the epidemiological studies in this area have methodological issues, such as lack of information on confounders and short follow-up.

Breast ovarian cancer syndrome (BRCA mutations) — BRCA mutations may account for as many as 90 percent of hereditary ovarian cancers, and approximately 10 percent of all ovarian cancers. The risk of ovarian cancer associated with BRCA mutations is discussed in detail separately.

Laboratory Evaluation:

CA 125 tumor marker — The preoperative evaluation of a woman with suspected ovarian cancer includes measurement of the serum glycoprotein CA 125. The serum CA 125 is elevated (≥35 units/mL) in over 80 percent of women with advanced EOC. Such a finding in a postmenopausal woman with a pelvic or abdominal mass should prompt consultation with a gynecologic oncologist.

Treatment of Ovarian Cancer:

• The initial management of women with ovarian cancer is surgery.    Consultation by a gynecologic oncologist is crucial.  Primary surgical cytoreduction followed by systemic chemotherapy is the preferred initial management for women with stage III or IV EOC. There are three exceptions to an initial surgical approach to management.  Surgery is performed in women with suspected ovarian cancer to obtain tissue to confirm the diagnosis, assess the extent of disease (staging), and attempt to remove as much of the gross tumor as possible, which is crucial for successful treatment.

· The Gynecologic Oncology Group defines optimal cytoreduction as leaving residual disease less than 1 cm in maximum tumor diameter. The volume of residual disease remaining after cytoreductive surgery inversely correlates with survival; therefore, if it is technically feasible, all visible tumor should be resected at the initial surgical procedure.

· We recommend that cytoreduction be performed by gynecologic oncologists experienced in this surgery since achieving optimal cytoreduction depends, in part, on the judgment, experience, and aggressiveness of the surgeon.

·  If the initial surgical attempt at cytoreduction was not optimal and was not a maximal surgical effort, then chemotherapy and secondary surgical cytoreduction may be beneficial, but survival is not as high as with optimal cytoreduction at primary surgery

Here, Dr. Tony Talebi discusses the general concepts of what is ovarian cancer as well as treatment of stage 1 to 3 ovarian cancer with Dr. Joseph Lucci, professor gynecology and director of gynecologic oncology program at the University of Miami.  The discussion includes Ovarian cancer prognosis, what causes Ovarian cancer, signs of Ovarian cancer, Ovarian cancer symptoms, Ovarians cancer, Ovarian cancer stage 4, treatment of Ovarian cancer, Ovarian cancer association, stage four Ovarian cancer, small cell Ovarian cancer, symtoms of Ovarian cancer, causes of Ovarian cancer, Ovarian cancer chemotherapy, what is Ovarian cancer, Ovarian cancers, Ovarian cancer information, Ovarian cancer prevention, stage 4 Ovarian cancer, information about Ovarian cancer, stage iv Ovarian cancer, Ovarian cancer signs, Ovarian cancer symptom, is Ovarian cancer curable, stage 3b Ovarian cancer, Ovarians cancer symptoms, survival rates for Ovarian cancer, symptoms of Ovarian cancer, Ovarian cancer survivors, Ovarian cancer symptons, Ovarian cancer survival, treatments of Ovarian cancer, symptons of Ovarian cancer, Ovarian cancer statistics, non small cell Ovarian cancer, chemo for Ovarian cancer, Ovarian cancer survival rate, large cell Ovarian cancer, effects of Ovarian cancer, Ovarian cancer screening, Ovarian cancer diagnosis, Ovarian cancer societ Ovarian cancer clinical trials, Ovarian cancer metastasis, survival rate Ovarian cancer, symptom of Ovarian cancer, info on Ovarian cancer, new treatments for Ovarian cancer, how common.

Dr Joseph Lucci’s credentials:

Director, Division of Gynecologic Oncology
Co-Leader, Gynecologic Oncology Site Disease Group, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology

Board Certifications
American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology
American Board of Obstetrics & Gyn-Gynecologic Oncology

Practice Locations
Sylvester at Deerfield Beach
UMHC/Sylvester

Languages Spoken
English, Spanish

Appointments
For an appointment, please call 305-243-2233 or use our online appointment form

Education