For Healthcare Professionals

For Healthcare Professionals: Clinical Updates in Ovarian Cancer

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We offer a comprehensive, multidisciplinary team approach to screening, counseling, and treating women with ovarian cancer. Improved surgical techniques and refinements in postoperative care are largely responsible for recent improvements in outcomes for women with this malignancy. For staging early cancers that appear to be confined to the ovary, our surgeons are often able to use small-incision minimally invasive surgery via standard laparoscopy or the robotically assisted da Vinci® Surgical System – and have found that these approaches are as effective and accurate as staging during open surgery. Other reported benefits include decreased postoperative pain, improved cosmetic results, and faster recovery.

Our outcomes after surgery for both advanced and recurrent disease are among the best in the world. Notable as well are recent enhancements in chemotherapy regimens, such as intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and progress in ovarian cancer vaccine trials. The trend toward increasingly individualized care continues with the adaptation of such agents as poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors.

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) for Recurrent Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer

Gynecologic oncologist Dennis Chi describes a clinical trial evaluating secondary cytoreduction with and without HIPEC for various malignancies.

Runtime: 03:00 minutes Published: 04/17/2013 - 2:14 PM

Minimally Invasive Techniques for Managing Early- and Late-Stage Ovarian Cancer

Gynecologic oncologist Dennis Chi reviews the use of minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopy for the surgical staging of ovarian cancer.

Runtime: 04:00 minutes Published: 10/01/2012 - 8:36 AM

Improving Outcomes by Changing the Surgical Paradigm for Optimal Debulking

Gynecologic oncologist Dennis Chi discusses significant improvements in advanced ovarian cancer cases through the incorporation of extensive upper abdominal procedures.

Runtime: 03:00 minutes Published: 09/19/2012 - 11:30 AM

Related Topics

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For Healthcare Professionals: Individualized Approach to Treatment for the Elderly Ovarian Cancer Patient

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abdominal (ab-DAH-mih-nul)

Having to do with the abdomen, which is the part of the body between the chest and the hips that contains the pancreas, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, and other organs.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

cancer (KAN-ser)

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

cancer vaccine (KAN-ser vak-SEEN)

A type of vaccine that is usually made from a patient’s own tumor cells or from substances taken from tumor cells. A cancer vaccine may help the immune system kill cancer cells. Also called cancer treatment vaccine.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

chemotherapy (KEE-moh-THAYR-uh-pee)

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

clinical (KLIH-nih-kul)

Having to do with the examination and treatment of patients.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

counseling (KOWN-suh-ling)

The process by which a professional counselor helps a person cope with mental or emotional distress, and understand and solve personal problems.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

gynecologic (GY-neh-kuh-LAH-jik)

Having to do with the female reproductive tract (including the cervix, endometrium, fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, and vagina).

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

gynecologic oncologist (GY-neh-kuh-LAH-jik on-KAH-loh-jist)

A doctor who specializes in treating cancers of the female reproductive organs.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

intraperitoneal (IN-truh-PAYR-ih-toh-NEE-ul)

Within the peritoneal cavity (the area that contains the abdominal organs). Also called IP.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

laparoscopy (LA-puh-ROS-koh-pee)

A procedure that uses a laparoscope, inserted through the abdominal wall, to examine the inside of the abdomen. A laparoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also have a tool to remove tissue to be checked under a microscope for signs of disease.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

malignancy (muh-LIG-nun-see)

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Malignant cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of malignancy. Carcinoma is a malignancy that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a malignancy that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a malignancy that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are malignancies that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are malignancies that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called cancer.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

multidisciplinary (MUL-tee-DIH-sih-plih-NAYR-ee)

In medicine, a term used to describe a treatment planning approach or team that includes a number of doctors and other health care professionals who are experts in different specialties (disciplines). In cancer treatment, the primary disciplines are medical oncology (treatment with drugs), surgical oncology (treatment with surgery), and radiation oncology (treatment with radiation).

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

oncologist (on-KAH-loh-jist)

A doctor who specializes in treating cancer. Some oncologists specialize in a particular type of cancer treatment. For example, a radiation oncologist specializes in treating cancer with radiation.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

ovarian (oh-VAYR-ee-un)

Having to do with the ovaries, the female reproductive glands in which the ova (eggs) are formed. The ovaries are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

ovarian cancer (oh-VAYR-ee-un KAN-ser)

Cancer that forms in tissues of the ovary (one of a pair of female reproductive glands in which the ova, or eggs, are formed). Most ovarian cancers are either ovarian epithelial carcinomas (cancer that begins in the cells on the surface of the ovary) or malignant germ cell tumors (cancer that begins in egg cells).

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

ovary (OH-vuh-ree)

One of a pair of female reproductive glands in which the ova, or eggs, are formed. The ovaries are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

postoperative (post-AH-pruh-tiv)

After surgery.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

screening (SKREE-ning)

Checking for disease when there are no symptoms. Since screening may find diseases at an early stage, there may be a better chance of curing the disease. Examples of cancer screening tests are the mammogram (breast), colonoscopy (colon), and the Pap test and HPV test (cervix). Screening can also include checking for a person’s risk of developing an inherited disease by doing a genetic test.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

significant (sig-NIH-fih-kunt)

In statistics, describes a mathematical measure of difference between groups. The difference is said to be significant if it is greater than what might be expected to happen by chance alone. Also called statistically significant.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

staging (STAY-jing)

Performing exams and tests to learn the extent of the cancer within the body, especially whether the disease has spread from the original site to other parts of the body. It is important to know the stage of the disease in order to plan the best treatment.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

surgery (SER-juh-ree)

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)