Many women suffer from hyperandrogenic conditions during their lifespan. The most prevalent is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is characterized by hormonal, metabolic, and reproductive derangements in women of reproductive age. Endometrial cancer of epithelial origin (EC) is among the most common malignancies affecting women’s reproductive systems. It has been suggested that androgens are involved in the development of endometrial hyperplasia and EC. This narrative review aims to analyze the possible relationship between hyperandrogenic states in women and EC onset through risk assessment providing possible pathophysiological explanations.

Sparić, R., Andjić, M., Tinelli, A. et al. Hormones (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42000-026-00762-7

The provided text outlines a comprehensive expert recommendation and roadmap for the future of high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) research and treatment. Drawing from the 15th Helene Harris Memorial Trust International Forum, the document synthesizes a decade of progress while identifying critical gaps in early detection and acquired resistance. It highlights the shift toward recognizing the Fallopian tube as the primary site of origin, which has revolutionized prevention strategies like opportunistic salpingectomy. The authors emphasize the complexity of the tumour microenvironment and the need for personalized immunotherapy to overcome the limitations of current treatments. Ultimately, the source advocates for international collaboration and innovative clinical trial designs to address social disparities and improve long-term survival rates.

Nat Rev Cancer. 2026 Apr 13. doi: 10.1038/s41568-026-00916-0

This study investigates the prevalence of undetected malignant nodules during surgery for colorectal and ovarian cancer that has spread to the peritoneum. Researchers conducted a prospective trial where a second senior surgeon performed an immediate re-evaluation of the abdomen after the primary surgeon deemed the cancer removal complete. The findings revealed that nearly half of the patients still had cancerous tissue remaining despite the initial assessment of a total clearance. Cognitive testing on the participating doctors suggests that these omissions are likely due to perceptual biases and attention limits rather than physical exhaustion. Ultimately, the authors advocate for a systematic second look or dual-surgeon approach to overcome human visual limitations and improve patient survival rates.

Dumont F, Cosse L, Thibaudeau E, Bourgin C, Heymann MF, Pothier J, Vignaud T. Immediate Second Look After Cytoreduction for Colorectal or Ovarian Carcinomatosis: An Invisible Gorilla Effect? Ann Surg Oncol. 2026 Mar 21. doi: 10.1245/s10434-026-19493-5. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41865210.

Drugging the undruggable through novel synthetic lethal strategies

This session highlights how leveraging synthetic lethality is opening new therapeutic avenues for targets once considered beyond reach. A promising step forward in precision oncology and the development of more effective, mechanism-driven treatments.

Speaker

Timothy Anthony Yap

The addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy has been shown to improve progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with ovarian cancer, with the greatest benefit observed in those with high-risk disease, and the combination of bevacizumab and olaparib has been approved as a first-line maintenance treatment for patients with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)-positive advanced ovarian cancer.

The results of the study include the finding that bevacizumab is associated with improved PFS in both platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive recurrent OC. The study also found that bevacizumab combined with olaparib maintenance therapy may provide substantial benefits for patients with newly diagnosed advanced OC and homologous recombination deficiency-positive tumors.

The results of the study show that bevacizumab can be used across multiple lines of therapy in individual patients to control disease effectively, and that combining bevacizumab with olaparib as maintenance therapy may be beneficial in both higher- and lower-risk patients in the first-line setting.

The limitations of the study include the fact that the optimal bevacizumab treatment strategy for AOC is still debated. The study also notes that there are no established predictive biomarkers to aid in selecting patients for bevacizumab treatment.

The limitations of the studies include that they were not designed to compare the efficacy of bevacizumab in the first-line versus recurrent setting. Another limitation is that the studies did not investigate the optimal sequencing of bevacizumab treatment.

Monk BJ, Lorusso D, Fujiwara K, Sehouli J. Optimal bevacizumab treatment strategy in advanced ovarian cancer: A review. Cancer Treat Rev. 2025 Jun;137:102945. doi: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2025.102945. Epub 2025 Apr 20. PMID: 40349571.

This episode explores the growing role of antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) in the treatment of ovarian cancer. ADCs combine a targeted monoclonal antibody with a cytotoxic drug, allowing chemotherapy to be delivered directly to tumor cells while limiting damage to healthy tissue.

The discussion highlights two currently approved ADCs in ovarian cancer: mirvetuximab soravtansine, used for platinum-resistant disease with high folate receptor alpha (FRα) expression, and trastuzumab deruxtecan, used for tumors with HER2 overexpression. Key clinical evidence is reviewed, particularly the MIRASOL phase 3 trial, which showed improved progression-free survival, response rate, and overall survival with mirvetuximab compared with chemotherapy.

The episode also discusses emerging research, including combination strategies such as mirvetuximab with bevacizumab, and several investigational ADCs targeting antigens like TROP2, cadherin-6, and claudin-6.

Finally, the episode addresses challenges such as biomarker testing requirements and unique toxicities, while emphasizing future directions including biomarker-agnostic ADCs, combinations with immunotherapy, and the potential use of ADCs in earlier treatment settings.

Overall, ADCs represent a rapidly evolving and promising therapeutic class that may significantly reshape the management of ovarian cancer in the coming years.

Page C. Widick , Ursula A. Matulonis & Meghan Shea (11 Mar 2026): What does the future hold for antibody-drug conjugate therapies in ovarian cancer?, Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy, DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2026.2645102