Massive ovarian cancer screening trial tests whether early detection cuts deaths
NCT ID NCT01696994
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jul 24, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study enrolled over 78,000 women to see if regular screening with ultrasound and blood tests can lower the number of deaths from ovarian cancer. Participants were randomly assigned to either receive screening or usual care. The goal is to find out if catching the cancer early helps women live longer.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that regular screening reduces deaths from ovarian cancer, leading to better early detection guidelines.
- What could go wrong
- This trial is observational and completed enrollment; screening may not reduce deaths and could lead to false alarms or unnecessary procedures.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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78,216 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Nov 1993
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A government research agency
The lead sponsor is the US National Institutes of Health.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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55 to 74 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Exclusion Criteria: * Women who at the time of randomization are less than 55 or greater than or equal to 75 years of age * Individuals undergoing treatment for cancer at this time, excluding basal-cell and squamous-cell skin cancer * Individuals with known prior cancer of the colon, rectum, lung, or ovary * This includes primary or metastatic PLCO cancers * Individuals with previous surgical removal of the entire colon or one lung * Until October 1996, women with previous surgical removal of both ovaries were excluded from the trial. In order to increase the enrollment of women into the trial, beginning in October 1996, these women were no longer excluded for this reason. * Individuals who are participating in another cancer screening or cancer primary prevention trial * Prior to April 1, 1999 women were excluded from the trial if they were currently taking or had taken Tamoxifen or Evista\\Raloxifene in the past 6 months. As of April 1999 based on a decision from the PLCO Ovary Subcommittee, women who have or are currently taking Tamoxifen or Evista\\Raloxifene are not excluded from participation. * Individuals who are unwilling or unable to sign the informed consent form * Individuals who have had a colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or barium enema in the past three years
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
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