New Drug Helps Surgeons Spot 30% More Ovarian Cancer

Inova Schar Cancer in Virginia has become the first health system in the state and the Mid-Atlantic region to use an FDA-approved imaging drug during ovarian cancer surgery.

The agent, known as CYTALUX, is administered as an infusion prior to the operation. It causes cancerous cells to emit light in the operating room. This provides surgeons with a visual method to distinguish healthy tissue from malignant growths in real time.

Dr. Leslie Randall, director of Gynecologic Oncology at Inova Schar Cancer, explained that the technology aids in complex cases. She noted that after chemotherapy, it can be difficult to determine if remaining tissue is viable tumor. The dye allows the surgical team to identify specific areas for removal.

Randall stated that clinical trials showed the drug helped surgeons identify additional cancer in nearly 30% of patients. She emphasized that ovarian cancer surgery is often a single opportunity to remove as much of the disease as possible. The imaging tool assists in maximizing that removal.

Colleen Abbott, 60, a resident of Gaithersburg, was the first local patient to undergo surgery with the new technology. Diagnosed in February after experiencing pelvic pressure, she learned her cancer had originated in a fallopian tube and spread throughout her abdomen. Abbott underwent six rounds of chemotherapy and surgery. She is currently in remission.

“I'm in remission now because they got all of it,” Abbott said. “Can you imagine how many more women this can help? More and more women will have more time with their families.”

Ovarian cancer remains the deadliest gynecologic cancer in the United States, accounting for more than 12,000 deaths annually. It is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage due to vague symptoms and the lack of a routine screening test for average-risk women. While some patients report minor side effects such as nausea from the drug, physicians manage these reactions with medication and note that most patients tolerate the treatment well.