Ovarian cancer - study proves screening can cut deaths by nearly 30 per cent

Screenings could cut deaths by nearly a quarter

 

SCREENING for ovarian cancer can cut deaths by more than a quarter, a major new study has revealed.

 

The cancer is the fifth most common in women - around 7,100 are diagnosed with it each year in Britain and it kills more than 4,000.

But because the symptoms of ovarian cancer can be similar to those of other conditions, it can be difficult to recognise and is often spotted too late.

Overall, 72 in 100 will live for at least one year after being diagnosed, around 46 out of 100 will live for at least five years and 35 out of 100 will live for at least 10 years.

 

But women with advanced ovarian cancer have a poorer survival rate. Six out of 10 will be dead within five years.

The findings are of importance given the limited progress in treatment outcomes for ovarian cancer over the last 30 years

Professor Usha Menon, of UCL

 

Currently there is no general population screening as it is only available for women who are at high risk of developing the condition due to a strong family history or inheritance of a particular faulty gene.

But one of the UK's largest ever trials, involving 202,638 women and published in The Lancet, concluded screening may reduce ovarian cancer mortality from between 15 to 28 per cent after follow up of up to 14 years.

Professor Ian Jacobs, of the Institute for Women's Health at University College London (UCL), said: "These results from UKCTOCS provide estimates of the mortality reduction attributable to ovarian cancer screening which range from 15 per cent to 28 per cent.

 

Because of its sympotons ovarian cancer is often spotted too late

 

"Further follow up in UKCTOCS will provide greater confidence about the precise reduction in mortality which is achievable.

"It is possible that the mortality reduction after follow up for an additional two to three years will be greater or less than these initial estimates."

UKCTOCS recruited cancer free postmenopausal women who had no history of familial ovarian cancer, no personal history of ovarian cancer or had both ovaries removed.

Half had no screening, a quarter annual screening using serum CA125 - a biomarker blood test - interpreted using the Risk of Ovarian Cancer Algorithm (ROCA) with transvaginal ultrasound scan (TVS) as a second-line test. A quarter just had TVS.

The average follow up was 11.1 years and medical records determined how many died from the cancer.

 

If the cancer is spotted early the chance of survival are better

 

She said screening "detects ovarian cancer sufficiently early to alter the natural history of the disease and reduce mortality."

Prof Menon added: "This opens up a new era in ovarian cancer research and care.

"Whether or not population screening is justified will depend upon a range of factors including further follow-up to determine the full extent of the mortality reduction and health economic analyses.

"Meanwhile efforts can be made to refine ovarian cancer screening, develop tests with greater sensitivity and more lead time and improve ways to risk stratify the population."