Types of Ovarian Cancer

About the Ovaries
The ovaries are small, almond-shaped female reproductive organs. There are two ovaries and they are located deep in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries produce female hormones and store all of the egg cells, which are released once a month during ovulation.

About Ovarian Cancer
Unusual growth of ovarian cells can result in a cancerous or non-cancerous ("benign") tumor. Many ovarian tumors are benign; women with benign tumors can be cured by surgically removing part or all of the affected ovary or ovaries.¹ Cancerous ovarian tumors, however, may be typically advanced at the time they are diagnosed, which means they have spread to other areas of the abdomen or to distant sites in the body.¹

Types of Ovarian Cancer
The three main types of ovarian cancers are described by the cells within the ovary where the cancer started.¹

Epithelial ovarian cancers
The majority of ovarian cancers develop from the cells that cover the outer surface of the ovary, called "epithelial" cells.¹ Epithelial ovarian cancers account for 85 to 90 percent of all ovarian cancers.

Epithelial ovarian cancers come in several forms, which differ only in thier appearance when viewed under a microscope.

The other two major types of ovarian cancer — germ cell tumors and stromal tumors — are much less common than epithelial ovarian cancer.

Germ cell tumors
Approximately five percent of ovarian cancers begin in the cells that form the eggs, called "germ" cells. Germ cell tumors can occur in women of any age, but they tend to be found most often in women in their early 20s.
Stromal tumors
Ovarian stromal tumors develop in the tissue that hold the ovary together and the cells that produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.¹ Unlike epithelial ovarian cancers, 70% of the cases of stromal tumors are diagnosed early.

Since germ cell tumors and stromal tumors are rare and treated differently than the epithelial type, the term "ovarian cancer" refers only to epithelial ovarian cancers throughout this website.²

A risk factor is something that can affect a person's chance of getting a disease such as ovarian cancer.²

Risk Factors
The exact cause of ovarian cancer remains unknown, although several "risk factors" have been linked to the disease. Some risk factors, such as smoking, can be controlled. Others, like a person's age or race, can't be changed. Having one or more risk factors does not mean that a person will get the disease.²

Now let's discuss the diagnosis and staging of ovarian cancer.

References:

American Cancer Society. What Is Ovarian Cancer? Available at: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/….
Accessed March 4, 2008.
American Cancer Society. What Causes Ovarian Cancer? Available at: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/….
Accessed March 3, 2008.

About GEMZAR

GEMZAR is indicated in combination with cisplatin (another type of chemotherapy) for the first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced (stage IIIA or stage IIIB) or metastatic (stage IV or cancer that has spread) non-small cell lung cancer for whom surgery is not possible.

GEMZAR is indicated in combination with carboplatin (another type of chemotherapy) for the woman with ovarian cancer that has returned at least 6 months after the patient had finished platinum-based therapy.

GEMZAR in combination with paclitaxel is approved by the FDA for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer after they have received another type of chemotherapy called an anthracycline, unless their medical condition did not allow them to receive an anthracycline.

GEMZAR is indicated as a single agent (given alone) as the first-line treatment for patients with locally advanced (stage II or stage III when surgery is not an option) or metastatic (stage IV) adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. GEMZAR is also indicated for patients previously treated with 5-FU (another type of chemotherapy).

Important Safety Information

GEMZAR may not be appropriate for some patients.

If you are allergic to GEMZAR, tell your doctor you should not receive it. GEMZAR can suppress bone marrow function. There have been rare reports of serious kidney or liver toxicity with GEMZAR treatment, sometimes fatal. Serious lung toxicity has also been reported, sometimes fatal. If you think you are pregnant, are planning to be pregnant, or are nursing, please tell your healthcare team. GEMZAR may harm your unborn or nursing baby.

If you have had prior kidney or liver problems or impairment, please tell your healthcare professional. GEMZAR may not be right for you. GEMZAR has not been shown to work in children. Tell your doctor if you are taking other medicines, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements.

There is a risk of side effects associated with GEMZAR therapy. The most common side effects are low blood cell counts (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets); fever; infection; hair loss; tiredness; nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea; rash; shortness of breath; muscle aches; and numbness or tingling in your toes or fingers. These are not all of the side effects of GEMZAR. If you have any side effect that bothers you or that doesn't go away, be sure to talk with your healthcare professional. Call your healthcare professional right away if you have fever or chills. These symptoms could mean you have an infection.

You will have regular blood tests before and during your treatment with GEMZAR. Your doctor may adjust your dose of GEMZAR or delay your treatment based on the results of your blood test and on your general condition.

For more information about all of the side effects of GEMZAR, please talk with your healthcare team, see the complete Prescribing Information, or call 1-800-545-5979.

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