Ovarian cancer, which ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most common histologic type, with the 5-year survival for all stages estimated at 45.6%. This rate increases to more than 70% in the minority of patients who are diagnosed at an early stage, but declines to 35% in the vast majority of patients diagnosed at advanced stage. Recurrent EOC is incurable. Platinum sensitivity (or lack thereof) is a major determinant of prognosis. The current standard treatment is primary surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy. In recurrent platinum-resistant/platinum-refractory EOC, sequential single-agent salvage chemotherapy is superior to multiagent chemotherapy. Multiagent regimens increase toxicity without clear benefit; however, no preferred sequence of single agents is recommended. The impact of targeted therapies and immunotherapies on progression-free survival and overall survival, which remains dismal, is under active investigation. Currently, clinical trials offer the best hope for the development of a new treatment paradigm in this recalcitrant disease.
Keywords: Epigenetic; Epithelial ovarian cancer; Platinum refractory; Platinum resistant; VEGF inhibitor.