Unlock Biomarkers | Ovarian Cancer Disease State

Epidemiology

The incidence of ovarian cancer has been gradually declining over the past few decades, likely due, in part, to the increased use of oral contraceptives and the decrease in use of menopausal hormone therapy.¹

Percent of Cases by Stage at Diagnosis²

5-year Relative Survival by Stage at Diagnosis²

Localized

Regional

Distant

Unknown

5-year Relative Survival (all stages)

Although fewer women are being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, many are still diagnosed at later stages, which significantly impacts their chances of long-term survival.² Approximately ~45% of ovarian tumors harbor actionable genomic alterations (AGAs).^3-5

Pathobiology

Ovarian cancer can develop when genomic aberrations cause uncontrolled cell growth.⁶

HRR Pathway Deficiency^7,8

In many cases of ovarian cancer, genes involved in the homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway are mutated. BRCA1/2, for example, are tumor suppressor genes, and as such these mutations will drive tumor formation.

Genomic mutations can cause homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)⁷

HRD Phenotype

A common underlying issue in ovarian cancer is HRD, a condition where cells lose their ability to repair damaged DNA.^6,7

Patient and Disease Characteristics

Patient care in ovarian cancer relies on the understanding that each patient’s disease is unique. Testing for tumor characteristics is important for identifying appropriate patient care strategies.¹

Patient Care Plan

Patient history and characteristics¹

Genetics

Age

Pregnancy history

Family history

Menstrual history

Stage of disease¹

Early stage

Locally advanced

Metastatic

Ovarian cancer subtypes¹

Epithelial ovarian tumors

Ovarian germ cell tumors

Ovarian stromal tumors

Tumor and molecular characteristics^1,9-11

Actionable biomarkers

Patient history and characteristics¹

Stage of disease¹

Ovarian cancer subtypes¹

Tumor and molecular characteristics^1,9-11

Genetics

Age

Pregnancy history

Family history

Menstrual history

Early stage

Locally advanced

Metastatic

Epithelial ovarian tumors

Ovarian germ cell tumors

Ovarian stromal tumors

Actionable biomarkers

References

1. American Cancer Society. Ovarian Cancer. August 25, 2025. Accessed August 25, 2025. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/ovarian-cancer/key-statistics.html. 2. National Cancer Institute, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Cancer Stat Facts: Ovarian Cancer. Accessed August 18, 2025. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/ovary.html. 3. Shen C, et al. Oncotarget. 2016;7(44)71686-71695. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.11994. 4. Turashvili G, et al. Arch Pathol Lab Med. Published online September 16, 2025. doi:10.5858/arpa.2025-0157-CP. 5. Rajapaksha W, et al. Front Drug Deliv. 2024;4:1339936. doi:10.3389/fddev.2024.1339936. 6. Romey M, et al. Mod Pathol. 2024;37(4):100445. doi:10.1016/j.modpat.2024.100445. 7. College of American Pathologists. Homologous Recombination Repair Deficiency (HRD): Brief Review of the Clinical Implication and Methodology of Measurement. Accessed August 22, 2025. https://www.cap.org/member-resources/articles/homologous-recombination-repair-deficiency-hrd-brief-review-of-the-clinical-implication-and-methodology-of-measurement. 8. Oubaddou Y, et al. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2023;24(9):3139-3153. doi:10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.9.3139. 9. Budczies J, et al. J Pathol Clin Res. 2022;8(4):371-382. doi:10.1002/cjp2.271. 10. Fan S, et al. Int Immunopharmacol. 2020;89(Pt A):107126. doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2020.107126. 11. Szczerba A, et al. Cancers (Basel). 2022;14(24):6030. doi:10.3390/cancers14246030.

References

Remon J, Hendriks LEL, Mountzios G, et al. J Thorac Oncol. 2023;18(4):419-435. doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2022.10.015.
Han Y, Yu Y, Miao D, et al. JTO Clin Res Rep. 2024;5(2):100630. doi:10.1016/j.jtocrr.2023.100630.
Altintas DM, Comoglio PM. Cancers (Basel). 2023;15(18):4672. doi:10.3390/cancers15184672.
Liang H, Wang M. Onco Targets Ther. 2020;13:2491-2510. doi:10.2147/OTT.S231257.
Park S, Choi YL, Sung CO, et al. Histol Histopathol. 2012;27(2):197-207. doi:10.14670/HH-27.197.
Sun W, Song L, Ai T, et al. J Biomed Res. 2013;27(3):220-230. doi:10.7555/JBR.27.20130004.
Socinski MA, Pennell NA, Davies KD. JCO Precis Oncol. 2021;5:PO.20.00516. doi:10.1200/PO.20.00516.
Drusbosky LM, Dawar R, Rodriguez E, Ikpeazu CV. J Hematol Oncol. 2021;14(1)129. doi:10.1186/s13045-021-01138-7.
Sierra JR, Tsao MS. Ther Adv Med Oncol. 2011;3(1 Suppl):S21-35. doi:10.1177/1758834011422557.
Yin W, Guo M, Tang Z, et al. Cancers (Basel). 2022;14(10):2433. doi:10.3390/cancers14102433.
Ding C, Qiu Y, Zhang J, et al. BMC Pulm Med. 2023;23(1):240. doi:10.1186/s12890-023-02482-9.
Coleman N, Hong L, Zhang J, et al. ESMO Open. 2021;6(6):100319. doi:10.1016/j.esmoop.2021.100319.
Settleman J. Curr Biol. 2012;22(2):R43-4. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2011.11.004.
Qin K, Hong L, Zhang J, et al. Cancers (Basel). 2023;15(3):612. doi:10.3390/cancers15030612.
Hartmaier RJ, Markovets AA, Ahn MJ, et al. Cancer Discov. 2023;13(1):98-113. doi:10.1158/2159-8290.CD-22-0586.
Xiang C, Lv X, Chen K, et al. Mod Pathol. 2024;37(4):100451. doi:10.1016/j.modpat.2024.100451.
Heydt C, Ihle MA, Merkelbach-Bruse S. Cancers (Basel). 2023;15(11):2932. doi:10.3390/cancers15112932.
Mazieres J, Vioix H, Pfeiffer BM, et al. Clin Lung Cancer. 2023;24(6):483-497. doi:10.1016/j.cllc.2023.06.008.
Reischmann N, Schmelas C, Molina-Vila MA, et al. iScience. 2023;26(7);107006. doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.107006.
Friedlaender A, Drilon A, Banna GL, et al. Cancer. 2020;26(22):4826-4837. doi:10.1002/cncr.33159.

OVARIAN CANCER

Disease State

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Pathobiology

Patient and Disease Characteristics

Epidemiology

The incidence of ovarian cancer has been gradually declining over the past few decades, likely due, in part, to the increased use of oral contraceptives and the decrease in use of menopausal hormone therapy.¹

Percent of Cases by Stage at Diagnosis²

5-year Relative Survival by Stage at Diagnosis²

Although fewer women are being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, many are still diagnosed at later stages, which significantly impacts their chances of long-term survival.² Approximately ~45% of ovarian tumors harbor actionable genomic alterations (AGAs).^3-5

Pathobiology

Ovarian cancer can develop when genomic aberrations cause uncontrolled cell growth.⁶

HRR Pathway Deficiency^7,8

HRD Phenotype

Patient and Disease Characteristics

Patient care in ovarian cancer relies on the understanding that each patient’s disease is unique. Testing for tumor characteristics is important for identifying appropriate patient care strategies.¹

Patient Care Plan

Patient history and characteristics¹

Stage of disease¹

Ovarian cancer subtypes¹

Tumor and molecular characteristics^1,9-11

Patient history and characteristics¹

Stage of disease¹

Ovarian cancer subtypes¹

Tumor and molecular characteristics^1,9-11

Learn more about select biomarkers in ovarian cancer

OVARIAN CANCER

Disease State

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Pathobiology

Patient and Disease Characteristics

Epidemiology

The incidence of ovarian cancer has been gradually declining over the past few decades, likely due, in part, to the increased use of oral contraceptives and the decrease in use of menopausal hormone therapy.1​

Percent of Cases by Stage at Diagnosis2​

5-year Relative Survival by Stage at Diagnosis2​

Although fewer women are being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, many are still diagnosed at later stages, which significantly impacts their chances of long-term survival.2​ Approximately ~45% of ovarian tumors harbor actionable genomic alterations (AGAs).3-5

Pathobiology

Ovarian cancer can develop when genomic aberrations cause uncontrolled cell growth.6

HRR Pathway Deficiency7,8

HRD Phenotype

Patient and Disease Characteristics

Patient care in ovarian cancer relies on the understanding that each patient’s disease is unique. Testing for tumor characteristics is important for identifying appropriate patient care strategies.1

Patient Care Plan

Patient history and characteristics1

Stage of disease1​

Ovarian cancer subtypes1​

Tumor and molecular characteristics1,9-11

Patient history and characteristics1

Stage of disease1​

Ovarian cancer subtypes1​

Tumor and molecular characteristics1,9-11

Learn more about select biomarkers in ovarian cancer

The incidence of ovarian cancer has been gradually declining over the past few decades, likely due, in part, to the increased use of oral contraceptives and the decrease in use of menopausal hormone therapy.¹

Percent of Cases by Stage at Diagnosis²

5-year Relative Survival by Stage at Diagnosis²

Although fewer women are being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, many are still diagnosed at later stages, which significantly impacts their chances of long-term survival.² Approximately ~45% of ovarian tumors harbor actionable genomic alterations (AGAs).^3-5

Ovarian cancer can develop when genomic aberrations cause uncontrolled cell growth.⁶

HRR Pathway Deficiency^7,8

Patient care in ovarian cancer relies on the understanding that each patient’s disease is unique. Testing for tumor characteristics is important for identifying appropriate patient care strategies.¹

Patient history and characteristics¹

Stage of disease¹

Ovarian cancer subtypes¹

Tumor and molecular characteristics^1,9-11

Patient history and characteristics¹

Stage of disease¹

Ovarian cancer subtypes¹

Tumor and molecular characteristics^1,9-11