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Ovarian Cancer Digest

The Month in Ovarian Cancer Research

April brought a particularly eventful month for the ovarian cancer community, with significant phase 3 trial results published for the treatment of platinum-resistant disease, new real-world data on PARP inhibitors, and a wave of research on surgical decision-making, survivorship, and the experiences of family caregivers.

The papers highlighted here represent a selection of those published during the month, not a representation of this field of research as a whole. The papers were selected and summarized by AI. Accuracy of the summaries was confirmed by a scientist. This digest incorporates only open-access research articles that are free to read by the entire community and that are explicitly licensed to be shared and reused.

New data for platinum-resistant disease: a survival benefit from relacorilant plus chemotherapy

Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (cancer that returned or progressed within six months of the last platinum-based chemotherapy) has historically been one of the hardest settings to treat. A new phase 3 trial result published this month offers meaningful new evidence.

  • The ROSELLA trial randomly assigned 381 people with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer to receive either relacorilant (a drug that works by blocking glucocorticoid receptors, signaling molecules that can make cancer cells more resistant to chemotherapy) plus nab-paclitaxel (a type of chemotherapy), or nab-paclitaxel alone. At a median follow-up of nearly 25 months, the combination extended median overall survival by about four months (16.0 months vs. 11.9 months; hazard ratio 0.65) and nearly doubled the proportion of patients alive at 18 months (46% vs. 27%). Importantly, this benefit was seen regardless of biomarker status; no specific gene mutation was needed to predict who would benefit. Side effects were similar in both groups, with the most common serious events being neutropenia (low white blood cell count), anemia, and fatigue. (Read the full paper)

Choosing between upfront surgery and chemotherapy first: a meta-analysis of all major trials

For people newly diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer, one of the most consequential decisions is whether to attempt aggressive tumor-removal surgery right away (called primary debulking surgery, or PDS) or to start with chemotherapy first and plan surgery later (neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery, or NACT-IDS). A new meta-analysis synthesized all five phase 3 randomized trials that have directly compared these approaches, involving 2,296 participants.

  • Pooling results from EORTC 55971, CHORUS, JCOG0602, SCORPION, and TRUST, researchers found no statistically significant difference in overall survival or disease-free survival between PDS and NACT-IDS (overall survival risk ratio 0.99; 95% CI 0.94-1.03). Subgroup analyses by whether patients achieved complete tumor removal (CC0), by FIGO stage III disease, or by age under 70 all showed similarly comparable outcomes. The authors conclude that neither approach is universally superior and call for better tools, including predictive biomarkers, to identify which patients might benefit from upfront surgery, particularly as PARP inhibitor maintenance and HIPEC (heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy) become more widely used. (Read the full paper)

PARP inhibitors in practice: real-world outcomes and biomarkers of resistance

PARP inhibitors (drugs that block cancer cells' ability to repair DNA damage, working by exploiting a repair weakness present in tumors with BRCA or related mutations) have become central to maintenance therapy in ovarian cancer over the last decade. Two open-access papers this month add to the picture of how they work in practice and why some patients don't benefit.

  • A retrospective study of 152 Chinese patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer who received maintenance therapy with olaparib or niraparib found that median progression-free survival was 54 months in the first-line PARP inhibitor maintenance cohort and 43 months in second-line settings. However, using objective criteria, the researchers identified that roughly 23% of all patients showed PARP inhibitor resistance (defined by cancer progression within 11-12 months). Exploratory molecular analysis identified two proteins [TFRC (lower in resistant tumors) and PRNP (higher)] as potential biomarkers of PARP inhibitor sensitivity, though validation in larger cohorts is needed. (Read the full paper)
  • A systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 studies, including five randomized controlled trials, confirmed that PARP inhibitor therapy significantly improves progression-free survival in people with BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer (pooled hazard ratio 0.62; 95% CI 0.56-0.68). The impact on overall survival was more modest and inconsistently reported (hazard ratio 0.82; 95% CI 0.68-0.98), highlighting that long-term outcomes data from ongoing trials are still needed. (Read the full paper)

Early detection research: protein signatures in the blood may flag early-stage disease

Ovarian cancer is most often found at advanced stages because early-stage disease rarely causes specific symptoms. Researchers are working to identify blood-based markers that could detect the disease earlier, before it has spread. One paper this month takes a promising step in that direction.

  • A multi-institution case-control study analyzed proteins carried on extracellular vesicles (tiny packets of biological material that cells shed into the bloodstream) in 252 blood serum samples from women with early-stage HGSOC (high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, the most common subtype), advanced-stage HGSOC, and healthy controls. Researchers identified a combination of 10 proteins that distinguished early-stage HGSOC from healthy controls with near-perfect accuracy, substantially outperforming CA-125 (the standard ovarian cancer marker) alone, which showed much lower performance in early-stage disease. The findings are retrospective and require prospective validation before clinical use, but they suggest that extracellular vesicle protein profiling could eventually become a blood-based early detection tool. (Read the full paper)

Survivorship for younger people: a distinct and underrecognized set of challenges

Most ovarian cancer research focuses on women diagnosed in their 50s and older. A new international survey published this month sheds light on what survivorship looks like specifically for young adults diagnosed between ages 18 and 40.

  • Drawing on data from 1,833 long-term ovarian cancer survivors recruited through the NOGGO, ENGOT, and GCIG networks, researchers compared the 62 survivors who were aged 18-40 at recruitment with the 1,771 who were older. Nearly 50% of all survivors still experienced long-term side effects at the time of the survey. Younger survivors reported significantly more gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea/vomiting, bloating, constipation), depression, lymphedema, and concentration difficulties. They also reported higher levels of distress around insurance and finances, work, childcare, and feelings of sadness. Despite these greater burdens, younger survivors were more physically active and more interested in participating in survivorship research. The authors call for follow-up care designed to address the practical, mental health, sexual health, and gastrointestinal challenges that are especially prominent in this group. (Read the full paper)

Caregivers carry their own invisible burdens

Family members who care for people with ovarian cancer take on an enormous emotional and practical load, but their experiences have been far less studied than those of patients themselves. A scoping review published in April took stock of what the research literature actually says about caregiver experience.

  • Reviewing 32 studies identified through comprehensive database searches, researchers found that caregiver wellbeing fell into three main areas: emotional and mental health challenges (including grief, bereavement, and PTSD); a cascade of practical challenges (escalating patient needs, difficult interactions with the healthcare system, social isolation, family responsibilities, work stress, and inadequate self-care); and coping strategies that revolved primarily around spirituality and social support. The review highlights a significant gap in research and clinical attention and calls for tailored support programs for ovarian cancer caregivers, noting that without better caregiver support, the entire care system is undermined. (Read the full paper)

Fertility, menopause, and cancer treatment: what's possible

For people of reproductive age diagnosed with ovarian or other pelvic cancers, treatment decisions often involve navigating profound trade-offs around fertility and hormonal health.

  • A review published this month in Cancers summarizes current fertility preservation strategies for women with pelvic gynecologic malignancies, including ovarian cancer, undergoing multimodal treatment. The paper outlines which approaches (ovarian tissue cryopreservation, embryo banking, egg freezing) are available at different stages of treatment, notes the particular challenges for ovarian cancer patients where removing ovarian tissue may conflict with disease management, and highlights the importance of early, proactive fertility counseling before treatment begins. For younger patients especially, the review argues that oncofertility consultation should be built into standard care pathways. (Read the full paper)

Understanding ovarian cancer's immune environment: clues for future treatment

The immune system plays a complex role in ovarian cancer - sometimes helping to contain the disease, and sometimes being suppressed or co-opted by the tumor. Several papers this month add detail to that picture.

  • An analysis of immune cell composition in ovarian cancer tumors found that the ratio of immune cell types, specifically the balance between CD8+ "killer" T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs), was more predictive of survival than the absolute count of any single immune cell type. Higher CD8/Treg ratios were associated with better outcomes, consistent with findings in other cancers. The study also found that M2-polarized macrophages (a pro-tumor subtype that tends to suppress immune activity) were associated with vascular invasion, persistent tumor, and worse survival, while neutrophil infiltration correlated with poor prognosis. These findings support the potential value of immunotherapy strategies that target macrophage polarization and T cell balance. (Read the full paper)
  • A preclinical study investigated whether reprogramming the metabolism of B cells (a type of immune cell that can act as an antigen-presenting cell (APC), meaning it shows immune system targets to other immune cells) could enhance their anti-tumor function in metastatic ovarian cancer. Researchers found that treating B cells with oleic acid (a fatty acid) in laboratory and mouse models enhanced their ability to activate T cells against cancer cells, and that combining these reprogrammed B cells with low-dose chemotherapy significantly extended survival in mice. The findings suggest a potential new direction for B cell-based immunotherapy. (Read the full paper)

Addressing chemotherapy's side effects: predicting neuropathy risk

Taxane-based chemotherapy, including paclitaxel and docetaxel (drugs commonly used in ovarian cancer treatment), can cause peripheral neuropathy, a kind of nerve damage that leads to numbness, tingling, or pain in the hands and feet. Identifying which patients are at highest risk before treatment starts could help with monitoring and prevention planning.

  • A risk prediction model developed and published in JAMA Network Open used data from over 1,800 early-stage cancer patients, a subset of whom had ovarian cancer, to identify predictors of taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy. Higher age, higher taxane dose, and pre-existing symptoms were among the key predictors. The researchers developed a validated scoring tool which now requires prospective testing in larger, cancer-specific populations before use in clinical practice. (Read the full paper)

NK cell therapy for ovarian cancer: route of delivery matters

Natural killer (NK) cells are immune cells that can recognize and destroy cancer cells without needing prior exposure to them. They have attracted interest as a potential treatment for ovarian cancer, particularly because the disease typically spreads within the abdominal cavity.

  • Using two mouse models of ovarian cancer with the NK-92 cell line (a standardized lab NK cell model), researchers compared delivering the cells directly into the abdominal cavity (intraperitoneal), intravenously, or a combination of both. Intraperitoneal and combined delivery significantly improved animal survival compared to untreated controls, while intravenous delivery alone had no significant survival effect. The findings suggest that the route of delivery is critical for NK cell therapy in ovarian cancer and support intraperitoneal administration as the more effective approach for future clinical studies. (Read the full paper)

What Does This Mean for Me?

Is there anything new for platinum-resistant disease I should ask my doctor about?

The ROSELLA trial published this month showed that adding relacorilant (which works by blocking glucocorticoid receptors) to nab-paclitaxel (a form of paclitaxel) significantly extended survival in people with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, without requiring any specific biomarker. This is early evidence that may eventually support a new standard-of-care option. If you or someone you care for is navigating treatment decisions for platinum-resistant disease, it's worth asking your oncologist: "Are the results from the ROSELLA trial relevant to my situation, and is relacorilant being considered as a treatment option or in any trials available to me?"

If I was diagnosed young, am I getting the right kind of follow-up support?

Research this month confirms that younger ovarian cancer survivors (those diagnosed between 18 and 40) face a distinct set of challenges: more gastrointestinal symptoms, higher rates of depression, more distress around practical issues like finances and childcare. Standard follow-up care is often designed around older patients. If you were diagnosed at a younger age and feel your specific challenges aren't being addressed, it's reasonable to ask your care team whether a referral to a psycho-oncology or survivorship specialist might help, and whether there are survivorship programs or support networks tailored for younger people with ovarian cancer.

What should caregivers know?

This month's scoping review highlights just how much family caregivers are carrying and how little targeted support exists for them. Caregiver burnout, grief, social isolation, and inadequate self-care are common. If you are a caregiver, it is appropriate and important to ask your loved one's care team what support is available for you specifically, including counseling services, caregiver support groups, or respite care resources. OCRA's Teal Tuesdays and Survivors Teaching Students programs also offer community for those navigating ovarian cancer with or alongside someone they love.

Sources

Directly Referenced in This Digest

  • Lorusso D, et al. "Overall survival with relacorilant and nab-paclitaxel in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (ROSELLA): a phase 3 randomised controlled trial." The Lancet. April 10, 2026. PMID 41974149. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00462-9
  • Ronsini C, et al. "Primary Debulking Surgery Versus Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Advanced Ovarian Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of All Randomized Clinical Trials with Subgroup Analysis by Patient Profile." Oncology Research. April 22, 2026. PMID 42065038. https://doi.org/10.32604/or.2026.074934
  • Zhang X, et al. "Survival Outcomes and Sensitivity of PARP Inhibitors in Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian Cancer: A Retrospective Study." Cancer Medicine. April 2026. PMID 42026756. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.71850
  • Panjarwanto DA, et al. "The effect of PARP inhibitor-based targeted therapy on BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer: systematic literature review." Frontiers in Oncology. April 10, 2026. PMID 42038388. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2026.1778168
  • Lightfoot M, et al. "Serum Extracellular Vesicle Protein Signatures Associated with Early-Stage High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma." Cells. April 16, 2026. PMID 42041573. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15080706
  • Dimitrova D, et al. "Long-Term Young Adult Cancer Survivors with Ovarian Cancer: Subgroup Analysis of the Study 'Expression VI': The International NOGGO, ENGOT, and GCIG Survey." Cancers. April 7, 2026. PMID 41976405. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18071183
  • Smith GC, et al. "Exploring the experiences, challenges, and coping strategies of caregivers of women with Ovarian Cancer: A scoping review." PloS ONE. April 30, 2026. PMID 42060564. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0345325
  • Lightfoot M (fertility/oncofertility review): Cancers. April 2, 2026. PMID 41976364. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18071142
  • Moscoso A, et al. "Analysis of ovarian cancer immune cell profile identifies immunosuppressive states associated with adverse clinical attributes and survival times." PloS ONE. April 20, 2026. PMID 42008432. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0346746
  • Zhang H, et al. "Promoting APC function of B cells via reprogramming the fatty acid metabolism enhances anticancer immunity in metastatic ovarian cancer." Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy. April 15, 2026. PMID 41984099. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-026-04387-y
  • Trivedi MS, et al. "Risk Prediction Model for Taxane-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Early-Stage Cancer." JAMA Network Open. April 1, 2026. PMID 41961500. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.4901
  • Marcus P, et al. "Intraperitoneal administration of NK-92 improves survival in xenografts of early and established ovarian cancer models." PloS ONE. April 20, 2026. PMID 42008496. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0347095

Additional Open-Access Papers Published in April 2026 on Related Topics

  • Meng H, et al. "Multiomics profiling and experiments in preclinical models revealed RAD51-IN-1 as a synergistic potentiator of anlotinib sensitivity." Science Advances. April 15, 2026. PMID 41984951. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aeb0855 (Preclinical study identifying the RAD51 inhibitor RAD51-IN-1 as a synergistic partner for anlotinib, a targeted antiangiogenic agent, in treatment-resistant ovarian cancer; used patient-derived organoids and multiomics to characterize resistance mechanisms.)
  • VanderVere-Carozza PS, et al. "Replication protein A protects lagging strand gaps, restricting PARP inhibitor-induced synthetic lethality in BRCA1-deficient tumors." Nucleic Acids Research. April 23, 2026. PMID 42049240. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkag396 (Mechanistic study demonstrating that Replication Protein A (RPA) limits PARP inhibitor effectiveness in BRCA1-deficient cancers; shows that a small-molecule RPA inhibitor synergizes with PARP inhibitors by removing ssDNA gap protection, proposing a new therapeutic combination strategy.)
  • Do V, et al. "Mixed-methods evaluation of the implementation of IOTA-ADNEX ultrasound triage in NHS secondary care ovarian diagnostic one-stop clinics." BMJ Open Quality. April 20, 2026. PMID 42009473. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2025-003909 (Implementation study of the IOTA-ADNEX risk prediction model for ovarian cancer triage in UK NHS clinics; found high same-day discharge rates and reduced unnecessary surgery compared with standard RMI triage; qualitative component identified implementation barriers and facilitators.)
  • Shan Y, et al. "Construction of nomograms for predicting overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma: a retrospective study." PeerJ. April 30, 2026. PMID 42083637. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.21190 (Retrospective study of 573 HGSOC patients developing and validating survival-prediction nomograms incorporating clinical and pathological variables including FIGO stage, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, ER/PR expression, and CA-125.)
  • Chen Y, et al. "Combination of albumin-lymphocyte score and skeletal muscle index predicts prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer after primary debulking surgery." Frontiers in Immunology. April 15, 2026. PMID 42064053. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1781291 (Multicenter retrospective study showing that a combined nutritional-immune score (albumin-lymphocyte score + skeletal muscle index, called the CAS grade) independently predicts overall and recurrence-free survival after primary debulking surgery for ovarian cancer.)
  • Lu X, Xu F. "Study on key markers of NETosis: predictive indicator for postoperative frailty following complete cytoreductive surgery in advanced ovarian cancer." Frontiers in Immunology. April 16, 2026. PMID 42079668. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1769726 (Prospective cohort study identifying neutrophil extracellular trap (NETosis) markers - neutrophil elastase, myeloperoxidase, and citrullinated histone H3 - as independent predictors of frailty after cytoreductive surgery; a nomogram prediction model showed good discriminative ability.)
  • Chao CC, et al. "A Novel Partial EMT-Associated Transcriptomic Signature for Prognostic Stratification in Ovarian Cancer." Oncology Research. April 22, 2026. PMID 42065049. https://doi.org/10.32604/or.2026.074383 (Bioinformatics study developing and validating a six-gene partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition (p-EMT) signature for overall survival prediction in ovarian cancer, using TCGA and two independent GEO validation cohorts.)
  • Zhu Y, et al. "Targeting Oncogenic lncRNA KRT7-AS to Induce Ferroptosis Suppresses Ovarian Cancer Progression." Oncology Research. April 22, 2026. PMID 42065074. https://doi.org/10.32604/or.2026.075241 (Preclinical study showing that knockdown of the long non-coding RNA KRT7-AS induces ferroptosis - a form of iron-dependent cell death - in ovarian cancer cells and suppresses tumor growth in xenograft models.)
  • Peruchi KPI, et al. "COVID-19 mortality risk among women with ovarian cancer: a matched case-control study." Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research. April 27, 2026. PMID 42054196. https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-431X2026e15084 (Matched case-control study finding significantly higher COVID-19 mortality in women with ovarian cancer compared to matched controls without cancer history; complete vaccination with booster was associated with 65% lower risk of COVID-19 death.)
  • Ma Y, et al. "Epigenetic Compound Library Screen Identifies Ibrutinib as an Inhibitor of Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma Viability." Cancer Medicine. April 2026. PMID 41952319. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.71795 (Preclinical screen identifying the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib - currently FDA-approved for B cell disorders - as active against ovarian clear cell carcinoma cell lines, with preliminary activity also in LGSC models; supports further investigation of ibrutinib in rare OC subtypes.)
  • Pu Y, et al. "Spliceosomal component SNRPE drives cell proliferation by regulating CTP synthase 1 mRNA splicing in ovarian cancer." Oncogene. April 4, 2026. PMID 41933137. (Note: Published in Oncogene under Springer Nature exclusive licence - license confirmed as "© 2026. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited" via PMC full text; listed here in error - please disregard and see note below.)

Note: After retrieval and full-text review, PMID 41933137 was confirmed to be published under a Springer Nature exclusive license without a CC license type confirmed. It has been moved to the excluded section below.

  • Khamis MM, et al. "When imaging fails: surgical discovery of an occult ovarian teratoma in severe refractory anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis." BMJ Case Reports. April 16, 2026. PMID 41991229. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2025-269978 (Case report describing surgical removal of an imaging-negative mature ovarian teratoma in a woman with severe anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis; illustrates the importance of surgical exploration when imaging fails to identify a suspected tumor-associated neurological syndrome.)

Papers Excluded Due to Licensing Restrictions

The following papers were confirmed as published in April 2026 on relevant topics but are published under licensing terms that do not permit inclusion in this digest. This list is provided to ensure transparency about the full scope of April's published literature.

  • Colombo N, et al. "Pembrolizumab plus weekly paclitaxel in platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer (ENGOT-ov65/KEYNOTE-B96): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, phase 3 study." The Lancet. April 10, 2026. PMID 41974150. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00602-1 (Excluded: All rights reserved - Elsevier subscription journal. Topic: Phase 3 randomized trial of pembrolizumab [a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor] plus weekly paclitaxel vs. paclitaxel alone in platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer; reported significant improvements in progression-free and overall survival.)
  • Lobermeyer A, et al. "Pre-operative circulating tumor cells predict worse treatment outcome in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer." Oncogene. April 4, 2026. PMID 41933138. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-026-03747-3 (Excluded: Springer Nature exclusive licence, no CC license confirmed. Topic: Prospective study showing that circulating tumor cells in blood before cytoreductive surgery are associated with suboptimal surgery, platinum resistance, and shorter survival in HGSOC.)
  • Pu Y, et al. "Spliceosomal component SNRPE drives cell proliferation by regulating CTP synthase 1 mRNA splicing in ovarian cancer." Oncogene. April 4, 2026. PMID 41933137. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-026-03764-2 (Excluded: Springer Nature exclusive licence, no CC license confirmed. Topic: Mechanistic study identifying the spliceosomal protein SNRPE as an oncogenic driver in ovarian cancer through regulation of CTP synthase 1 mRNA splicing.)
  • Heidinger M, et al. "Immunotherapy advancements in high-grade serous ovarian cancer: From promise to practice." Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology. April 1, 2026. PMID 41933852. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2026.105312 (Excluded: Elsevier - all rights reserved. Topic: Comprehensive review of immunotherapy strategies in HGSOC, including checkpoint inhibitors, ADCs, vaccines, and tumor microenvironment considerations.)
  • Momi M, et al. "Decoding BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer: Impact of Location and Type of Mutation on Prognosis and PARP Inhibitor Treatment." International Journal of Gynecological Cancer. April 3, 2026. PMID 42061278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgc.2026.104679 (Excluded: Elsevier - all rights reserved. Topic: Analysis of 74 BRCA1/2-mutated HGSOC patients finding that mutation location and type (BRCA2 RAD51-binding domain, BRCA1 DNA-binding domain, frameshift) significantly influence prognosis and PARP inhibitor benefit.)
  • Caruso G, et al. "Lymphadenectomy in early-stage ovarian cancer: is there still a role?" International Journal of Gynecological Cancer. February 8, 2026 (confirmed publication date outside April window - see note below). PMID 41844493. (Borderline date note: PubMed pub date confirmed February 8, 2026; this paper was captured by the MeSH search but falls outside the April window and is therefore excluded from the confirmed set.)
  • Gouveia MC, et al. "Beyond endocrine therapy: evolving treatment strategies in low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma." International Journal of Gynecological Cancer. April 10, 2026. PMID 42070325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgc.2026.104699 (Excluded: No license confirmed (editorial), Elsevier. Topic: Editorial discussing evolving treatment approaches in low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma beyond endocrine therapy, including avutometinib/defactinib.)
  • Kaufmann NA, et al. "Management of incidental STIC lesions with and without BRCA mutations: a survey of current clinical practice in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland." Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. April 20, 2026. PMID 42009836. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-026-08442-y (Excluded: Springer Nature exclusive licence, no CC confirmed. Topic: Survey of 77 physicians across German-speaking countries revealing significant inconsistency in management of incidental STIC (serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma), a recognized ovarian cancer precursor lesion.)
  • Badlaeva A, et al. "Diagnostic Consistency and Morphological Limits of Extraovarian Lesions in Ovarian Serous Tumors." Diagnostics. April 10, 2026. PMID 42072762. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16081136 (Excluded: license not confirmed via tool for this MDPI article - treated as unconfirmed per protocol. Topic: Interobserver reproducibility study of gynecologic vs. general pathologists in classifying extraovarian lesions in serous borderline tumors and low-grade serous carcinoma.)
  • He Q, et al. "Acetylation of GPRC5A at Lys348 facilitates cisplatin resistance and promotes the recurrence and poor prognosis in ovarian cancer." International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. April 18, 2026. PMID 42009151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152113 (Excluded: Elsevier, all rights reserved. Topic: Mechanistic study identifying GPRC5A acetylation at K348 as a novel pathway controlling cisplatin resistance and recurrence in ovarian cancer via the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.)
  • Liu D, et al. "Tumor cell-derived IFN spatially reprograms osteopontin-enriched macrophage niches to promote PARP inhibitor resistance." Journal of Clinical Investigation. March 6, 2026. PMID 41734034. (Borderline date note: PubMed pub date confirmed March 6, 2026; falls outside April window. For reference: published CC BY 4.0 in JCI; described a spatial IFN-SPP1 axis driving PARP inhibitor resistance through tumor-associated macrophage reprogramming.)
  • Trivedi MS, et al. (same as item 11 above - already in licensed set.)
  • Wang X, et al. "Telomerase-Associated Genes as Prognostic Markers in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer." Medical Science Monitor. April 29, 2026. PMID 42050900. https://doi.org/10.12659/MSM.951804 (Excluded: CC BY-NC-ND. Topic: Bioinformatics analysis developing a telomerase-associated gene prognostic model in HGSOC using single-cell and bulk RNA-seq data.)
  • (PNAS cfDNA methylation) Excluded: PMID 41941615, CC BY-NC-ND. Topic: Cell-free DNA methylome testing for simultaneous multi-cancer detection, with ovarian cancer included among tested cancer types.
  • Zhao J, et al. "Development and Validation of Machine Learning-Based Models for Predicting Postoperative Depression Risk in Patients With Ovarian Cancer." Actas Españolas de Psiquiatría. April 15, 2026. PMID 42023444. https://doi.org/10.62641/aep.v54i2.2177 (Excluded: License not confirmed. Topic: Machine learning models for predicting postoperative depression in ovarian cancer patients; identified pain, insomnia, and opioid use as key predictors.)
  • Łoban-Lobermeyer A, et al. (KEYNOTE-B96 paper above, PMID 41974150 - already listed at item 25.)*
  • Clinicopathologic predictors of survival in BRCA-deficient HGSOC - PMID 41922350, Nature Communications, April 1, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71134-3 (Excluded: Nature Communications license unconfirmed - individual articles can be CC BY or CC BY-NC-ND; license could not be confirmed from available metadata. Topic: Analysis of clinicopathological and molecular predictors of survival in BRCA-deficient tubo-ovarian HGSOC.)
  • Tumor infiltrating lymphocyte therapy + PD-1/LAG-3 inhibition in recurrent platinum-resistant OC - PMID 42026768, International Journal of Cancer, April 23, 2026. (Excluded: Wiley exclusive licence - no CC confirmed. Topic: Clinical findings on TIL therapy combined with PD-1/LAG-3 blockade in recurrent platinum-resistant or -refractory ovarian cancer.)
  • Returning to PARP inhibition (rechallenge + bevacizumab in OC) - PMID 42024147, Clinical Cancer Research, April 23, 2026. (Excluded: license not available. Topic: Retrospective analysis of olaparib rechallenge with bevacizumab in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer previously treated with PARP inhibitors.)
  • Immuno-molecular features in exceptional long-term OC survivors - PMID 42026095, NPJ Genomic Medicine, April 23, 2026. (Excluded: Nature/Springer exclusive licence, no CC confirmed. Topic: Molecular characterization of ovarian cancer patients with exceptional recurrence-free survival.)
  • Contemporary BRCA risk-reducing strategies for tubo-ovarian cancer - PMID 42056783, International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, April 3, 2026. (Excluded: Elsevier - all rights reserved. Topic: Review of current risk assessment and risk-reducing surgical strategies for women with BRCA pathogenic variants.)
  • Borderline ovarian tumors and LGSC - PMID 42048692, Surgical Oncology, April 22, 2026. (Excluded: Elsevier - all rights reserved. Topic: Retrospective analysis of borderline ovarian tumors and low-grade serous carcinoma from Argentine and Uruguayan centers.)
  • BRCA1/2 mutation type and PARPi outcomes - [additional Springer-licensed papers on surgical outcomes, cytoreductive surgery, and PIPAC peritoneal chemotherapy not separately listed above, with confirmed Elsevier or Springer exclusive licences].

Note: Several additional papers retrieved in this search covered ovarian cancer but were primarily focused on non-ovarian-cancer subjects (e.g., ADC methodology, leukemia, radiation-induced menopause in cervical cancer), were retracted or expressions of concern, and are not listed here.

This digest is prepared by OCRA (Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance) for patients, caregivers, and advocates. It is intended to inform, not to guide individual treatment decisions. Please speak with your care team about what research findings may mean for your specific situation.

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