Types of ovarian cancer
It’s normal to have many questions about your ovarian cancer and treatment when you are diagnosed. To find a care plan that is best for you, your provider will identify your ovarian cancer. This is done by locating where the tumor cells are found, how fast they’re growing, and whether they have spread.
Types of ovarian cancer tumors
Ovarian cancer tumors include several different types that have varying symptoms and grow in different parts of the ovaries. The most common type is epithelial tumors, often referred to as epithelial ovarian cancer.
Tumors may be noncancerous (benign), cancerous (malignant) or borderline (low malignant potential). 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.
Epithelial tumors begin on the outer surface of your ovary. They have many 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.
These rare tumors form in structural tissue cells that produce sex hormones and hold the ovary together. They're often found in women over the age of 50 and, if found early, have a good prognosis.
The main types include granulosa cell, granulosa-theca, thecomas and fibromas. They produce the female hormone estrogen – the most common symptom of this tumor is abnormal vaginal bleeding. Another type, Sertioli-Leydig, produces the male hormone testosterone and can stop menstrual periods.
Grades for ovarian cancer tumors
Ovarian cancer tumors are given a grade based on how much they resemble normal tissue. The more differentiated (normal), the better the outlook for treatment since the tumor is growing slowly. Undifferentiated (abnormal) grade tumors don’t look like normal tissues and are growing rapidly and more aggressively.
- Grade 1: Tissue looks normal and is not growing rapidly; low-grade.
- Grade 2: Tissue looks somewhat normal but is growing faster; mid-grade.
- Grade 3: Tissue is abnormal looking and is growing rapidly; high-grade.
Stages of ovarian cancer
The stages of ovarian cancer are based on whether and how far the cancer has spread. Stages of ovarian cancer include:
- 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 nearby organs and lymph nodes in the pelvic area or abdomen, but not distant organs.
- Stage 4: Cancer has spread from its original site to nearby and distant lymph nodes, organs and tissues in the body, like the bones, liver and lungs.
Stage 4 cancer is advanced cancer and is harder to treat since the cancer cells have spread throughout the body (metastasized).
Learn about ovarian cancer treatment options.
Ovarian cancer survival rates
Ovarian cancer survival rate is determined by your cancer grade, stage and tumor type. The lower the stage or grade, the less advanced your cancer is – meaning you have a higher chance of treatment success. This is why early detection and cancer risk assessments are crucial.
Rare cancers related to ovarian cancer
Fallopian tube cancer
Fallopian tube cancer occurs when epithelial tumors start in the far (distal) end of fallopian tubes. It has a better prognosis than ovarian cancer, and if detected early, the onset of ovarian cancer can be prevented.
Primary peritoneal carcinoma
Primary peritoneal carcinoma (PPC) forms in the peritoneum (the tissue that lines your abdominal wall and covers organs in the abdomen). It’s often confused with epithelial ovarian cancer, since they both can spread along the internal lining of the abdomen in advanced stages. PPC has a poor prognosis compared to ovarian cancer and it may also spread to the ovaries.
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