Ovarian cancer treatments have come a long way in the past few decades. New treatments are regularly being developed in clinical trials, helping people live longer, healthier lives. Researchers are also looking for ways to match treatments to each person’s specific type of ovarian cancer for better results.

Surgery and chemotherapy are common treatments for ovarian cancer, but doctors may also recommend other therapies.

Different treatments may be used for different goals. In some cases, the goal is to eliminate all traces of cancer. Other times, the goal is to slow the growth of the tumor and manage ovarian cancer symptoms.

Factors in Choosing Treatment

The most effective ovarian cancer treatment depends on your specific case. Your oncologist (or cancer specialist) can help you understand which treatment options are a good fit for you.

Many factors can affect your treatment plan, such as:

• The type of ovarian cancer you have
• Your cancer stage
• Your age and overall health, including other conditions
• Your plans to have children
• Your personal preferences
• Any allergies or previous reactions to drugs

If you have ovarian cancer, you may undergo:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Hormone therapy
• Radiation therapy

You’ll likely receive a combination of these treatments. Clinical trials can be a valuable option for people whose other therapies haven’t worked.

Here we cover the main types of treatment for ovarian cancer. To learn more about your specific treatment plan, talk to your cancer care team.

1. Surgery

For many people whose ovarian cancer can be treated with surgery, this is the first step in treatment. There are different kinds of surgery for ovarian cancer, and each has different goals.

The goals of initial surgery may include:

• Performing a biopsy to collect tissue samples to examine cells under a microscope
• Assessing whether cancer has spread to determine the cancer stage
• Removing cancer tissue (known as debulking)

Surgery for ovarian cancer usually involves an oophorectomy, which is the removal of one or both ovaries. A bilateral oophorectomy removes both ovaries. In some cases, the surgeon may also remove one or both fallopian tubes. This is known as a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

2. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy (chemo) is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy for ovarian cancer usually involves intravenous (IV) infusions, though some chemo drugs are taken as pills.

Different types of chemotherapy drugs work in different ways, but all of them make it harder for tumors to grow or spread.

People with ovarian cancer are usually given more than one form of chemo. This is because using a combination often leads to better results.

The most common types of chemo used to treat epithelial ovarian cancer are platinum compounds and taxanes. Platinum compounds — such as cisplatin and carboplatin — work by damaging cell DNA. This prevents the cancer cells from making new copies of themselves.

Taxanes like paclitaxel and docetaxel also stop cells from reproducing. Other types of ovarian cancer may be treated with chemotherapy drugs like bleomycin and etoposide.

In rare cases, intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IP therapy) may also be used to treat ovarian cancer. IP therapy delivers the drugs directly into the abdomen through a tiny tube or during surgery. This is usually used for people with ovarian cancer that has spread to the mesentery or abdominal fat or within the peritoneal cavity, called peritoneal carcinomatosis.

3. Targeted Therapy

Cancer cells have genetic mutations (changes) that cause them to make certain proteins. Some targeted therapies specifically affect proteins found in cancer cells. Other targeted treatments block tumors from making new blood vessels or deliver chemo drugs directly to the tumor.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors

Bevacizumab (Avastin) is an angiogenesis inhibitor often used to treat ovarian cancer. It blocks vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a molecule cancer cells produce to form new blood vessels that supply the tumor with oxygen and nutrients. By blocking VEGF, bevacizumab helps cut off this supply to the tumor.

PARP Inhibitors

Both normal and cancerous cells use several different molecules to fix damage. One of these molecules is poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). When PARP is blocked using an inhibitor drug, cells can’t use it for repair.

Ovarian cancer cells often have variations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. These genes help repair DNA damage differently from PARP. When BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes don’t work and PARP molecules are blocked, the cancer cells can’t repair themselves. This is why PARP inhibitors work so well to treat ovarian cancer.

PARP inhibitors that may be used for ovarian cancer include:

• Niraparib (Zejula)
• Olaparib (Lynparza)
• Rucaparib (Rubraca)

PARP inhibitors are most commonly used as maintenance therapy after ovarian cancer has responded to platinum chemotherapy. This treatment helps prevent cancer from coming back or slows cancer growth.

Whether PARP therapy is right for you depends on which treatments you’ve tried and your tumor biology — including whether you have a BRCA mutation or other markers of DNA repair problems (called homologous recombination deficiency, or HRD, status).

NTRK Inhibitors

Some ovarian cancers have changes in NTRK genes. These genes cause cells to grow and divide. In some cancer cells, NTRK genes are turned on at high levels, triggering cells to grow out of control. NTRK inhibitors block this process.

Examples of NTRK inhibitors used for certain cancers with an NTRK gene fusion include:

• Entrectinib (Rozlytrek)
• Larotrectinib (Vitrakvi)
• Repotrectinib (Augtyro)

Antibody-Drug Conjugates

In 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave full approval to mirvetuximab soravtansine (Elahere) for ovarian cancer. Mirvetuximab soravtansine is an antibody-drug conjugate. This means it combines a chemotherapy drug with a lab-made antibody that helps deliver the drug directly to cancer cells.

According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancers often have high levels of folate receptor-alpha (FR-alpha) proteins. The antibody targets FR-alpha and delivers chemotherapy directly to the tumor.

You may receive mirvetuximab soravtansine if:

• You have FR-alpha-positive epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer.
• Platinum-based chemotherapy didn’t work.
• You have received one to three previous treatments for ovarian cancer.

Dual Kinase Inhibitors

In 2025, the FDA approved a new combination targeted therapy called Avmapki Fakzynja Co-Pack, a combination of avutometinib and defactinib. These two oral drugs work together to block certain signals that help cancer cells grow and survive.

It’s approved for adults with KRAS-mutated, low-grade serous ovarian cancer that has come back after earlier treatment.

Like other targeted therapies, this treatment may not be right for everyone. Your doctor can test your tumor for KRAS mutations to see if this option could work for you.

4. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy helps your immune system find and attack cancer cells. In February 2026, the FDA approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda) as the first immunotherapy for ovarian cancer. It’s used in combination with paclitaxel, with or without bevacizumab.

Pembrolizumab may be an option if:

• Your tumor tests positive for a protein called PD-L1.
• Platinum-based chemotherapy treatment didn’t work.
• You’ve received one or two prior treatments for ovarian cancer.

Talk to your doctor about testing to see whether immunotherapy may be right for your situation.

5. Hormone Therapy

Some types of ovarian cancer are fueled by the hormone estrogen. Hormone therapy medications can block estrogen to slow down cancer cell reproduction.

Hormone therapy is most often used for ovarian stromal tumors. It may also be used for low-grade serous ovarian cancer, which can be sensitive to estrogen-blocking treatments like aromatase inhibitors.

If you have an ovarian stromal tumor or low-grade serous ovarian cancer, your doctor may prescribe:

• Luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists like leuprolide and goserelin
• Aromatase inhibitors such as anastrozole, exemestane, and letrozole
• Antiestrogen medications like tamoxifen

6. Radiation Therapy

Most people who have ovarian cancer won’t undergo radiation therapy. However, an oncologist may recommend it in some cases.

Radiation therapy uses beams of energy — like X-rays — to destroy cancer cells. Radiation may be recommended as palliative care for ovarian cancer that has spread or is causing troublesome symptoms.

7. Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are the only way researchers can study the safety and effectiveness of new and existing treatments. Some oncology trials also study whether diet changes or exercise can help manage side effects or improve the quality of life for people with cancer.

If you’re interested in joining a clinical trial, talk to your doctor. You may be eligible to enroll in a cancer research study.

Can Ovarian Cancer Be Cured?

It’s possible to live a long and healthy life after an ovarian cancer diagnosis. New and better treatments are always being developed.

In some cases, ovarian cancer responds well to treatment and doesn’t return. Even in advanced cases, treatment can sometimes slow down tumor growth and ease symptoms, helping you live longer and feel better.

Join the Conversation

On MyOvarianCancerTeam, people share their experiences with ovarian cancer, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

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