Hope for ovarian cancer patients as two new studies show increase in survival
A drug for a rare disease may extend the lives of ovarian cancer patients, a new trial has suggested. Patients with a certain type of ovarian cancer may also benefit by taking a drug for Cushing’s syndrome – a rare condition caused by having too much of a hormone called cortisol in the body.
On average, patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer only live for around one year after diagnosis. Women are deemed to have this type of disease if their cancer progresses within six months of having platinum-based chemotherapy.
A new study found that patients who took relacorilant, a pill currently used to treat Cushing’s syndrome and other cancers, plus usual treatment, lived four months longer than women receiving usual care. The study, which has been published in The Lancet and presented at the SGO 2026 annual meeting on women’s cancer, examined data on 381 platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients.
Researchers found that those taking relacorilant were 35% less likely to die compared to those receiving usual care. Women given relacorilant lived for an average of 16 months, compared to 11.9 months for those who had usual care.
“These outcomes — a 35% reduction of the risk of death from any cause and a median overall survival improvement of 4.1 months—position relacorilant plus nab-paclitaxel as a new standard treatment option for patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer”, the authors wrote.
Meanwhile, a separate study published in the same journal and also presented to the SGO 2026 annual meeting on women’s cancer suggests that an immunotherapy cancer drug can improve survival odds among women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
Immunotherapy works by stimulating the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. Researchers wanted to assess whether taking pembrolizumab along with usual care would benefit platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients.
They examined data on 643 women and found that on average patients who took pembrolizumab, as well as usual care, lived for 17.7 months while those who had usual care alone survived for an average of 14 months. The research team said the findings “support this regimen as a new standard of care.”
What is ovarian cancer and its symptoms?
Ovarian cancer is a type of illness where unusual cells in the ovary, fallopian tube, or peritoneum start to grow out of control, creating a tumour. This disease mainly affects women who are over 50 years old, but it can also affect anyone who has ovaries.
The early signs are usually not very noticeable, like constant bloating, pain in the pelvic area, and a quick feeling of fullness. According to the NHS, common symptoms of ovarian cancer include frequently (roughly 12 or more times a month) having:
- a swollen tummy or feeling bloated
- pain or tenderness in your tummy or the area between your hips ( pelvic pain )
- no appetite or feeling full quickly after eating
- an urgent need to pee or needing to pee more often
Other symptoms of ovarian cancer can include:
- indigestion
- constipation or diarrhoea
- back pain
- feeling tired all the time
- losing weight without trying
- unusual bleeding from the vagina, including between periods, heavier periods or after the menopause
See a GP if you have any symptoms of ovarian cancer and you have previously seen a GP, but your symptoms have not gone away, are worse or more frequent. It’s important to get any symptoms of ovarian cancer checked as soon as possible. Finding it early can mean it’s more treatable.
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