National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Ovarian small cell carcinoma


Other Names:
Small cell carcinoma of the ovary
Categories:
Ovarian small cell carcinoma is a rare form of ovarian cancer that typically occurs in young women. It is typically an aggressive cancer that can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. There are two types of ovarian small cell carcinoma: hypercalcemic and pulmonary.[1] Approximately 2/3 of individuals with ovarian small cell carcinoma have the hypercalcemic type.[2] Symptoms are fairly nonspecific and are similar to other types of ovarian cancer.[3] Symptoms may include: bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, and appetite changes.[4] Treatment may involve surgery to remove the tumor/tumors if the cancer is detected at an early stage, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.[1]
Last updated: 6/28/2016
There are no standard recommendations guiding the treatment of ovarian small cell carcinoma. Some authors suggest that treatment should be similar to that of other small cell carcinomas. This might include surgery to remove the tumor or tumors if appropriate, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Many different chemotherapy drugs have been utilized with varying rates of success including but not limited to: carboplatin, paclitaxel, vinblastine, cyclophosphamide, bleomycin, doxorubicin, and etoposide.[5]
Last updated: 6/28/2016

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Ovarian small cell carcinoma. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Organizations Providing General Support

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Ovarian small cell carcinoma. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • A friend of mine, a 27 year old woman, has just been diagnosed with small cell carcinoma of the ovary with hypercalcemia.  This young woman, who was just diagnosed about 5 weeks ago, has extensive abdominal disease.  Is there anyone at the National Institute of Health with a specific interest in this disease? See answer

  • What treatments are available for ovarian small cell carcinoma? What specific drugs have been successfully used for chemotherapy? Are there any clinical trials? See answer


  1. K. Münstedt, R. Estel, T. Dreyer, A. Kurata, A. Benz. Small Cell Ovarian Carcinomas – Characterisation of Two Rare Tumor Entities. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. July 2013; 73(7):698-704. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3858994/.
  2. Lisa F Gamwell, Karen Gambaro, Maria Merziotis, Colleen Crane, Suzanna L Arcand, Valerie Bourada, Christopher Davis, Jeremy A Squire, David G Huntsman, Patricia N Tonin, Barbara C Vanderhyden. Small cell ovarian carcinoma: genomic stability and responsiveness to therapeutics. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2013; 8(33):http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3635907/.
  3. About Ovarian Cancer. Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance. http://mnovarian.org/about-ovarian-cancer/. Accessed 6/28/2016.
  4. Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. American Cancer Society. 02/04/2016; http://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer/detailedguide/ovarian-cancer-signs-and-symptoms.
  5. Jian-jun Wang, Qi Liu, Nan Wu, Xiao-die Zhou, Hai Wang, Xuan Wang, Pin Tu, Xiao-jun Zhou, Qun-li Shi. Ovarian small-cell carcinoma hypercalcemic type successfully treated: a case report and literature review. Onco Targets Ther. 2016; 9:1409-1414. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4795582/.