The role of radiotherapy in epithelial ovarian cancer: a literature overview

Ovarian cancer (OC) accounts for 3% of all cancer in women and for 5% of all cancer-related deaths. Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC) is a radiosensitive malignancy with a poor prognosis. In the pre-chemotherapy era, radiation therapy (RT) delivered to the abdominopelvic region (whole abdominal irradiation, WAI) has historically played a role in the adjuvant and consolidation setting. Specific cluster of patients with early-stage disease and definite histologies may take advantage of RT. Platinum-based chemotherapy (CT) has replaced RT and plays a major role in most of the clinical settings. Radiation Therapy for palliation is recommended in patients with localized symptoms. Nevertheless, modern RT represents a reliable treatment option, with a mild toxicity profile, particularly effective for oligo-recurrent or progressive disease. The present literature review aims to highlight the historical role of RT in EOC, the actual lines of evidence, and the future perspectives.