Symptoms and diagnosis of ovarian cancer

Abdominal pain, pelvic heaviness, transit disorders, abdominal volume increase, etc. The symptoms of ovarian cancer are not very specific and often delayed. This is the main difficulty in making the diagnosis, and ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at a locally advanced stage. Institut Curie is seeking to discover solutions to detect ovarian cancer earlier.

When there is a suspicion of ovarian cancer, expert radiologists at Institut Curie clarify the diagnosis with the help of an imaging assessment. Blood measurement of the CA 125 marker also makes it possible to monitor the progression of the disease. An anatomopathological examination of a tissue sample obtained during a biopsy or by excision (removal) of an ovary will be necessary. This surgical procedure is usually performed by an exploratory laparoscopy under general anesthesia.

In the context of high-grade ovarian cancer, the diagnosis is completed by testing the tumor in order to detect alterations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and to estimate the HRD (Homologous Recombination Deficiency), as well as to look for a DNA repair defect by homologous recombination. This test, initially developed by Institut Curie, helps to better guide treatment with targeted therapies, such as PARP inhibitors.