New Screening For Ovarian Cancer Could Help Prevent Disease

A new study shows that ovarian cancer, one of the most lethal types of cancer for women, may be better detected through a two-stage screening method that could be a more effective way to diagnose the health problem.

At this time, there is no effective way of screening women for ovarian cancer, and many tests may often cause false positives that can lead to unnecessary surgeries.

Yet, in order to detect the cancer, researchers used a two-stage method in an 11-year long study that includes over 4,000 women between the ages of 50 and 74. The screening involved both a blood test and an ultrasound.

Researchers looked at blood tests from participants by studying various levels of proteins called CA-125 that shed tumor cells. By examining this factor, they were able to group the women into three sections, including low-risk, intermediate-risk and high-risk. Those in the low-risk group received a blood test a year later. The intermediate risk group received one three months later and the high-risk group received the blood test and an ultrasound.

Results showed that approximately 83 percent of women were in the low-risk group and around 14 percent were in the intermediate-risk group. Three percent , or those that were considered high risk, received the ultrasound. These women all had something abnormal show up in the ultrasound and were advised to undergo surgery. Ten of these participants received surgeries; seven of which had benign tumors--the other three, cancerous.

"The results from our study are not practice-changing at this time; however, our findings suggest that using a longitudinal (or change over time) screening strategy may be beneficial in post-menopausal women with an average risk of developing ovarian cancer," study researcher Dr. Karen Lu, a professor of gynecologic oncology said, via a press release.

At this time, Lu explains that she and her team are working on the results of a larger study that is currently underway in the United Kingdom. 

"If the results of this study are also positive, then this will result in a change in practice," she said.

What do you think? 

More information regarding these findings can be seen via Cancer.