Cancer cell-platelet interactions in ovarian cancer metastasis

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynaecological malignancy worldwide with an estimated global incidence of 225,900 and mortality of 140,200 per year. In Ireland ovarian cancer is the second most common form of gynaecological cancer, the greatest cause of death from gynaecological malignancy and the fifth greatest cause of all cancer deaths in Irish women. Ovarian cancer has an associated mortality rate of ~75% and a long term survival rate of up to 20%, reflecting the severity of the disease and frequent diagnosis at late stage due to non-specific symptoms and a lack of effective screening tools. Treatment primarily involves debulking surgery and chemotherapy but despite initially high responsiveness, chemo-resistant recurrent disease is common.