Ovarian cancer patients given rare disease pill ‘less likely to die’

A medication used to treat a rare condition may help extend the lives of ovarian cancer patients, according to a groundbreaking new trial. Women suffering from a particular form of ovarian cancer could potentially benefit from taking a drug ordinarily prescribed for Cushing’s syndrome – a rare disorder caused by an excess of the hormone 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 discovered that patients who took relacorilant, a pill currently used to treat Cushing’s syndrome and other cancers, alongside standard 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 established that those taking relacorilant were 35% less likely to die compared to those receiving standard 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, reports the Mirror.

Immunotherapy works by stimulating the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. Researchers sought to establish whether administering pembrolizumab alongside standard care would prove beneficial for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients.

They analysed data from 643 women and found that patients who received pembrolizumab in addition to standard care survived an average of 17.7 months, while those who received standard care alone lived an average of 14 months. The research team stated that the findings « support this regimen as a new standard of care. »

What is ovarian cancer and its symptoms?

Ovarian cancer is a condition in which abnormal cells in the ovary, fallopian tube, or peritoneum begin to multiply uncontrollably, forming a tumour. The disease predominantly affects women aged over 50, though it can affect anyone with ovaries.

Early warning signs are often subtle, including persistent bloating, pelvic discomfort, and a rapid sensation 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
• 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

Consult a GP if you experience any symptoms of ovarian cancer and you have already visited a GP, but your symptoms have persisted, worsened or become more frequent. It’s crucial to have any symptoms of ovarian cancer examined as quickly as possible. Detecting it early can mean it’s more treatable.