Types of ovarian cancer
Find a cancer specialistOvarian cancer can affect any part of your ovaries or it may start in a fallopian tube. When diagnosed, it’s normal to have many questions about your type of ovarian cancer. Your provider will evaluate several factors, including where the tumor cells are found, how fast it’s growing, and whether it has spread. This will determine a treatment plan that works best for you.
Ovarian cancer tumors
There are several types of ovarian cancer tumors that grow in different areas of the body and have varying symptoms. The three main types include epithelial tumors, germ cell tumors and stromal cell tumors. Tumors may be noncancerous (benign), cancerous (malignant) or borderline (low malignant potential). Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common, often referred to as epithelial ovarian cancer.
In most cases, borderline tumors will need to be treated as they could eventually grow. Malignant tumors will also be treated as these are invasive cancers that could spread to other areas of the body.
Growing on the outer surface of your ovary, epithelial tumors have several different subtypes including serous, clear cell, mucinous and endometrioid. They differ in appearance, growth rate, symptoms and where they originate. Cancerous epithelial tumors are also called carcinomas (cancer that forms in epithelial tissue).
The most common type of ovarian cancer is high-grade serous carcinoma, a fast-growing epithelial tumor. With no significant symptoms in its early stages, serous carcinoma often spreads to other areas of the body by the time it’s diagnosed in its advanced stages.
Germ cell tumors form from the cells that produce eggs (ova). They're rare and usually occur at a younger age. If a malignant germ cell tumor is contained to the ovary, surgery is often successful with no further treatment needed.
Subtypes include dysgerminoma, teratoma and endodermal sinus (or yolk sac) tumors. The most common type is dysgerminoma which is a malignant but slow growing tumor that doesn’t spread rapidly in the body.
Often found in women over the age of 50, these rare tumors form in structural tissue cells that produce sex hormones and hold the ovary together. If found early, they have a good prognosis.
The main types produce the female hormone estrogen and include granulosa cell, granulosa-theca, thecomas and fibromas. Abnormal vaginal bleeding is the most common symptom of this type of tumor. Another type, Sertioli-Leydig, produces the male hormone testosterone and can stop menstrual periods.
Ovarian cancer tumor grades
Ovarian cancer tumors are given a grade to define how rapidly they are growing. The less growth, the more they resemble your normal tissue. If they are growing slowly, they are defined as differentiated and have a lower grade. Rapidly growing tumors are defined as undifferentiated and are more aggressive.
- Grade 1: Looks like normal tissue, is not growing rapidly and has a better prognosis; low-grade.
- Grade 2: Looks somewhat like normal tissue but is growing faster; mid-grade.
- Grade 3: Looks less like normal tissue (abnormal), is growing rapidly and has a worse prognosis; high-grade.
Ovarian cancer stages
The stages of ovarian cancer are:
- Stage 1: Cancer is confined to one or both ovaries or fallopian tubes (original site).
- Stage 2: Cancer is in the original site and has spread to nearby organs in the pelvis or the lining of the abdomen.
- Stage 3: Cancer is in the original site and has spread to other nearby organs and lymph nodes in the pelvic area or abdomen, but not distant organs.
- Stage 4: Cancer has spread from its original location to nearby and distant organ tissue and lymph nodes in the body, like the liver, bones and lungs.
Stage 4 cancer is considered advanced (metastatic) cancer. It is harder to treat because the cancer has spread throughout the body. This is why early detection and cancer risk assessments are crucial.
Learn about ovarian cancer treatment options.
Ovarian cancer survival rates
Ovarian cancer diagnosis range in their severity – stage 4 can be deadly, but it is also curable. Your survival rate is based on your tumor type and stage of cancer. Other factors, such as your health history or risk factors, will impact treatment success as well.
The lower the stage or type number, the less the cancer has grown and the higher probability of successful treatment.
Rare cancers related to ovarian cancer
Fallopian tube cancer
It was thought that ovarian cancer usually began in one or both ovaries, however researchers believe that most epithelial tumors actually start in the far (distal) end of fallopian tubes, which connect your ovaries to the womb. If cancerous tumors are found in the fallopian tubes early on, it can prevent the spread and onset of ovarian cancer.
Fallopian tube cancer is rare and has similar symptoms to ovarian cancer but has a better prognosis.
Primary peritoneal carcinoma
Forming in the peritoneum (the tissue that lines your abdominal wall and covers organs in the abdomen), primary peritoneal carcinoma (PPC) is often confused with epithelial ovarian cancer. They both may potentially spread to the internal lining of the abdomen during advanced stages.
Ovarian cancer has a better prognosis than PPC. It may also spread to the ovaries.
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