ORgni year alone in Italy are over five thousand new diagnoses from ovarian cancer, an extremely aggressive tumor that many women still know too little about. His symptoms, vague and nonspecificthey are indeed often mistaken for gastrointestinal disorders and consequently the disease is diagnosed at an advanced stage, when defeating it is much more difficult. Knowing this tumor, in which theMay 8 is world dayis therefore the first step to address it in a timely and effective manner.
How many types of ovarian cancer are there?
Ovarian cancer arises from the uncontrolled cell proliferation which constitute the tissues of the ovaries. In most cases, the tumor develops from cells that form the epithelium that covers the outer surface of the ovaries, but it can also originate from germ cells (those that give rise to the eggs) and from stromal cells (those that produce and release female hormones).
Who are the most at risk?
Age is one of the main risk factors for ovarian cancer: most cases are recorded in women over 50. Other important risk factors are the overweight, there duration of the ovulatory period and theabsence of children. While having more children, breastfeeding and prolonged use of the contraceptive pill appear to have a protective effect.
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What are the symptoms to watch out for?
At onset, ovarian cancer is often asymptomatic or manifests itself with symptoms not easily identifiable and this ne complicates early diagnosis, essential for effective treatment of the disease. Symptoms become more evident as the disease progresses and the main ones are:
- abdominal bloating persistent
- necessity of urinating often
- pelvic and abdominal pain persistent
- loss of appetite
- sense of fullness even after a light meal and nausea
- vaginal bleeding
- changes in bowel habits
Can ovarian cancer be hereditary?
There is one genetic predisposition to the development of ovarian cancer and the mutation most known and studied to date is that affecting the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. This means that those who have these mutations have a higher probability of developing it than those who do not have the mutation. Knowing whether ovarian cancer has this characteristic genetic trait is today fundamental both for prevention, because it allows healthy women to adopt risk reduction strategies, and for treatment, because it allows them to choose and use more targeted drug therapies. .
Are there any reliable screening tests?
In the past the dosage of CA-125 was proposed as screening test for ovarian cancer. CA-125 is a protein produced by cells in the uterus, cervix and fallopian tubes. It belongs to the category of “Tumor markers”, as its concentration increases in the presence of ovarian cancer. The CA-125 is however a not very specific marker, as its levels are influenced by numerous factors, such as endometriosis, pregnancy, the presence of a polycystic ovary. A healthy population screening program based on the presence of CA-125 in the blood would therefore be unreliable and currently the dosage of this marker is used only to verify the efficacy of the therapies used for ovarian cancer and to monitor the eventual recurrence of the disease.
What treatments are available today for ovarian cancer?
There surgical removal of the tumor represents the first step in the treatment of ovarian cancer. After surgery, chemotherapy is usually given that it can also be used before surgery to reduce the mass to be removed.
There chemotherapywhich until a few years ago was the only treatment option for women with ovarian cancer, is today flanked also by molecularly targeted drugs, used both as a first line of treatment and in case of relapse. Among these targeted therapies we find thebevacizumab monoclonal antibodywhich interferes with the formation of new blood vessels of the tumor, and PARP inhibitors, which have been shown to be very effective as maintenance therapy in both tumors with mutation of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.
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