Ovarian cancer is a deadly cancer. Most cases are diagnosed in late stages (stage III or IV) when long-term survival remains at 20% or less.

Findings from the United Kingdom Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening were published this year in the Lancet. The randomized control trial enrolled ~203,000 post-menopausal women into three groups (no screening, annual transvaginal ultrasound screening, or annual CA-125 ovarian tumor biomarker followed by transvaginal ultrasound when CA-125 was significantly increased).

A short summary of the study’s results: 1) more stage I and stage II ovarian cancers were detected in the CA-125 followed by the transvaginal ultrasound group (and fewer late-stage cancers) compared with no screening. 2) no significant difference in ovarian cancer incidence was seen between the transvaginal ultrasound and no screening groups. 3) Although the CA-125 followed by transvaginal ultrasound group identified more early-stage cancers, there was no accompanying decrease in ovarian cancer deaths compared with not screening.

Menon, U. et al. Ovarian cancer population screening and mortality after long-term follow-up in the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS): a randomized controlled trial. Lancet 397, 2182–2193 (2021). https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00731-5/fulltext