There are many different types of ovarian tumours and they are named after the type of cells they start from. The type of ovarian cancer you have impacts your treatment options now and in the future. Understanding the type can help you talk to your treatment team about your diagnosis and make decisions about your treatment.
Ovarian tumours are grouped depending on which part of the ovary they develop from. The most common types of cells ovarian tumours come from include:
- epithelial cells - these are the cells that cover the surface of the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
- sex cord stromal cells - these are cells in the core (centre) of the ovaries. They provide structure to the ovary and support the development of other ovarian cells.
- germ cells - these are the cells that develop into eggs within the ovaries.
- Epithelial cell tumours
About 90 in 100 ovarian cancer tumours come from epithelial cells. Subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancer include:
- high grade serous ovarian cancer. This is the most common type of ovarian cancer.
- low grade serous ovarian cancer
- endometrioid ovarian cancer
- clear cell ovarian cancer
- mucinous ovarian cancer.
- Sex cord stromal cell tumours
Around 7 in 100 ovarian cancer tumours start in the sex cord or stroma. These are cells in the core (centre) of the ovaries. These tumours are divided into:
- Pure stromal tumours
- Pure sex cord tumours
- Mixed sex cord stromal tumours
The most common type of sex cord stromal tumour is a granulosa cell tumour. They are a type of pure sex cord tumour.
- Germ cell tumours
Less than 5 in 100 ovarian cancer tumours come from germ cells. Germ cell tumours usually happen in those who are under the age of 40, and these tumours are usually very responsive to chemotherapy.
- Fallopian tube cancer
Fallopian tubes link the ovaries to the womb. Research has shown that some ovarian cancers start growing from fallopian tube cells and they are now being classified as fallopian tube cancer instead of ovarian cancer.
A close-up illustration of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, womb, cervix and vagina. Fallopian tube cancer is similar to ovarian cancer and treated in the same way. It is usually included in ovarian cancer clinical trials.
- Primary peritoneal cancer
Primary peritoneal cancer (PPC) starts in the peritoneum. This is a thin sheet of tissue that covers the organs in your tummy.
Front view of the body showing the peritoneum. Primary peritoneal cancer is treated in the same way as ovarian cancer. This is because it behaves similarly to ovarian cancer and responds to the same treatment.
- Other types of ovarian cancer
There are also rarer types of ovarian cancer. These include sarcomas, which start in the connective tissue in the ovaries. This is tissue that joins or separates organs in the body.
