Abstract
Ovarian cancer is usually diagnosed after reaching an advanced stage, in part because of the nonspecific nature of the presenting symptoms. A method of early detection is urgently needed because of the stark difference in long-term survival between early- and late-stage disease. A useful screening test must be easy to perform, low cost, safe and have high positive-predictive value in order to reduce the number of unnecessary invasive procedures performed. A variety of modalities – from pelvic examination to transvaginal ultrasound to cancer antigen 125 to serum biomarker panels and proteomic and other novel approaches – have been explored as possible tests to detect early disease. To date, an effective screening approach has yet to be introduced to clinical practice. Here, the authors evaluate the approaches and highlight promising areas of new research aimed at improving early detection of ovarian cancer.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.