Ovarian cancer is a form of cancer that can affect women of all ages groups. This form of cancer is actually the fifth most prevalent cancer among women. While ovarian cancer caught in the early stages is much easier to treat, this cancer often goes undetected due to few symptoms in the early stages. Instead, many patients are not diagnosed until the cancer spreads to the pelvis and abdomen when it’s harder to treat.

Explained below are the stages and treatments of ovarian cancer:

1. Stages of ovarian cancer

• Stage 1: This stage has three sub-stages: Stage 1A, 1B, and 1C. In Stage 1A, the cancer is localized or restricted to one ovary. In Stage 1B, the cancer is present in both ovaries. In Stage 1C, there are cancer cells in the external section of the ovary.
• Stage 2: In this stage, the tumor has reached other pelvic stages. Stage 2 has two sub-stages—Stage 2A and 2B. In Stage 2A, the cancer has reached the fallopian tubes or uterus. In Stage 2B, cancer has reached the rectum or bladder.
• Stage 3: This stage has three sub-stages—Stage 3A, 3B, and 3C. In Stage 3A, cancer has surpassed the abdomen lining and the abdomen’s lymph nodes. In Stage 3B, the cancer cells are out of the liver or spleen. In Stage 3C, cancer deposits of three-fourth of an inch are visible outside the liver or spleen or on the abdomen. However, cancer is not in the liver or spleen.
• Stage 4: In this stage, cancer has surpassed the lymph nodes, abdomen, and pelvis to the lungs or liver. The sub-stages in this stage include Stage 4A and 4B. In Stage 4A, there are cancerous cells in the fluid near the lungs. In Stage 4B, cancer has spread within the liver or spleen along with distant organs such as brain or skin.

2. Targeted therapy treatment for ovarian cancer
Targeted therapy ovarian cancer treatments involve the use of drugs or other substances to detect and invade cancer cells while doing minor damage to the regular cells. Each form of targeted therapy works differently. Every type changes the way a cancer cell interacts with other cells and stops it from growing.

3. Drugs involved in targeted therapy treatment

• Bevacizumab: Also known as Avastin, Bevacizumab belongs to a category of drugs known as angiogenesis inhibitors. Cancers need to create new blood vessels to develop and spread. Bevacizumab attaches to a protein called VEGF to stop or reduce the growth of cancer. It has been proved that Bevacizumab helps to slow or shrink the development of epithelial ovarian cancers of an advanced nature. It appears to function in a much better manner when it comes to shrinking tumors if given along with chemotherapy. Bevacizumab is infused in the vein after every two to three weeks.
• Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase (PARP) inhibitors: Zejula, Rubraca, and Olaparib are referred to as PARP inhibitors. Normally, PARP enzymes are involved in a single pathway to repair the hampered DNA within cells. Usually, the BRCA genes are involved in a different pathway to repair the DNA, wherein mutations in those genes can help block the pathway. By blocking the pathway, the drugs make it tough for tumor cells having a mutated gene to repair the hampered DNA, leading to the death of the cells. All these drugs are taken as capsules or pills.