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Introduction: In 2008, we published on the application of supportive care to ovarian cancer patients which involves caring for a patient’s symptoms during and/or after treatment with an objective of providing these women with an improved quality of life (QoL). This complex, multi-dimensional field involves all body systems and collaboration among multiple medical specialties.Areas Covered: In this updated review, we have incorporated new data investigating QoL and supportive care in ovarian cancer, maintaining our format of analyzing the data by separating it into two categories: tumor-related and treatment-related morbidities. The main themes within these categories include nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, anxiety and depression, fatigue and anemia, small bowel obstruction, sexual dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy, to name a few.Expert Commentary: While all of these components are challenging to manage, the oncologist must act as a facilitator who either addresses these needs or send the...

Although the incidence of ovarian cancer is less than that of other female cancers, the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease course is high. Because treatment involves radical surgery and intense courses of chemotherapy, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is often compromised. Most patients recur post-first-line therapy and undergo multiple rounds of chemotherapy. Thus, HRQOL is further disrupted. As the ongoing search for optimal therapies in both the first-line and recurrent setting continues, much attention is paid towards clinical trial design and implementation. Over the last decade, patient-reported outcomes and HRQOL measurement have become an integral part of these trials. HRQOL data are valued in examining the extent of treatment benefit and therefore can aid in decision-making during active treatment and palliative care. HRQOL and patient-reported outcome measurement is also useful in determining symptom prevalence, severity and management. This article highlights the state of the science of HRQOL measurement in clinical trial design and outcomes. In addition, symptom management in ovarian cancer and its ability to modulate quality of life will be explored.

Most women with ovarian cancer will suffer a recurrence. Unfortunately, although initial treatment can lead to undetectable disease, recurrent disease is often more challenging to control. As curative intent is less common after relapse, patients and doctors argue for improving quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes when therapies are selected. The article reviewed here discusses the QoL results of a trial in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer where over 900 patients were randomized to the standard treatment (carboplatin and paclitaxel) versus carboplatin and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin. In the paper under evaluation, the standard of care is challenged based on a favorable clinical outcome in addition to QoL results in the experimental arm.