Ms. Liu, in her 50s, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which was locally advanced with extensive peritoneal, mesenteric, and lymph node metastases. She was initially evaluated as inoperable.
After receiving 4 cycles of “neoadjuvant” therapy at the Department of Gynecology, Hainan Cancer Hospital, a miracle occurred: her tumors shrank, metastases resolved, and she regained the opportunity for surgery. Pathological examination of the resected mass showed no detectable cancer cells, achieving the clinical cure standard of “complete pathological remission”.
Director Cao Aie (second from right) and the medical team visiting patients
Ovarian Cancer: Silent in Early Stages, Often Diagnosed at Advanced Stages
In early August 2024, Ms. Liu presented with abdominal distension and pain, leading to a diagnosis of “ovarian serous carcinoma”.Further examination revealed lesions in the peritoneum, lymph nodes, bilateral adnexa, greater omentum, and mesentery, indicating locally advanced disease.
As explained by Director Cao Aie, a distinguished gynecological expert and director of the Gynecology Department at Hainan Cancer Hospital, ovarian cancer remains notoriously difficult to detect in its early phases due to nonspecific symptoms and the resemblances to common gynecological disorders. Statistical data in recent years indicates that 70% of Chinese ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, when cancer cells have already metastasized, complicating treatment and reducing the effect of conventional treatment.
Neoadjuvant Therapy: A Blessing for Ovarian Cancer Patients
Director Cao emphasized that Ms. Liu’s highly invasive and malignant ovarianserous carcinoma posed a significant challenge to conventional therapies.
Fortunately, the hospital has introduced neoadjuvant therapy technology and has gained rich clinical treatment experience.
Deputy Chief Physician Pu Tengda elaborated: “In recent years, emerging neoadjuvant therapy for ovarianserous carcinomaserves as a pre-surgical intervention to downstage tumors, with the core purpose of transforming inoperable cases into surgical candidates by effective intervention including shrinking tumor burden and optimizing patient condition.”
Currently, neoadjuvant therapy technologies include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. These treatment methods play unique roles in the comprehensive treatment system of ovarian cancer, providing more possibilities and choices for improving the treatment effect and prognosis of ovarian cancer patients.
The gynecological medical team crafted an individualized treatment plan for Ms. Liu’s condition.
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First, carry out two cycles of targeted therapy combined with chemotherapy to rapidly arrest tumor progression.
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Then, implement two additional chemotherapy cycles to eradicate residual cancer cells.
This four-cycle neoadjuvant combination therapy yielded dramatic results: the primary ovarian tumor shrank from 8 cm to 3 cm, all metastatic lesions resolved.
Recently, the gynecological expert team successfully performed a minimally invasive radical resection of ovarian cancer on Ms. Liu. Pathological examination of the resected tumor tissue showed “no residual cancer”, meaning that the tumor cells were completely eliminated.
Gynecological Team Performing Surgery (Photo)
In 2024 alone, the department treated 94 ovarian cancer patients, with 70% of newly diagnosed cases becoming surgical candidates after neoadjuvant therapy and nearly 50% achieving “complete pathological remission”, which is the clinical cure standard, bringing a new life to many ovarian cancer patients.
Expert introduction
Cao Aie
Director of the Department of GynecologyChief Physician
Medical expertise
Adept at surgical treatment of benign and malignantgynecological tumors such as cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine fibroids, ovarian tumors, endometriosis, uterine prolapse, and intrauterine adhesions,Dr. Cao Aie also has rich experience in chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy for malignantgynecological tumors such as cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, and vulvar cancer. She has completed more than 10,000 minimally invasive surgeries such as laparotomy, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, and vaginal surgery.
Clinic Hours
Every Monday and Wednesday
Text and images | Liang Shan, Liu Zhaoyang