# Case Report: Successful pregnancy after fertility-sparing surgery for ovarian clear cell carcinoma

**Authors:** Shubo Wang, Qian Li, Bingxiu Zhou, Fuxin Zhou

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2026.1735073 · Frontiers in Oncology · 2026-02-11

## TL;DR

A young woman with early-stage ovarian cancer successfully had a baby after fertility-preserving surgery and chemotherapy.

## Contribution

This case report presents a successful fertility-sparing treatment for early-stage ovarian clear cell carcinoma.

## Key findings

- A 33-year-old patient with stage IA OCCC remained disease-free for 36 months after fertility-sparing surgery and chemotherapy.
- The patient achieved a full-term pregnancy via in vitro fertilization following treatment.
- The case suggests fertility-sparing surgery combined with chemotherapy can be effective in selected young patients with OCCC.

## Abstract

Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is a rare histologic subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer, often associated with chemoresistance and poor prognosis. Fertility preservation in patients with OCCC remains controversial because of its aggressive biological behavior and limited evidence supporting conservative management. We report a case of a 33-year-old woman with stage IA OCCC who underwent fertility-sparing staging surgery followed by six cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with liposomal paclitaxel and carboplatin. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist was administered concurrently to protect ovarian function. The follow-up duration was 36 months, during which the patient remained disease-free and achieved a successful full-term pregnancy after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. The pregnancy resulted in a full-term delivery, and the patient gave birth by cesarean section without complications. This case demonstrates that fertility-sparing surgery combined with adjuvant chemotherapy may be a feasible treatment option in carefully selected young patients with early-stage OCCC. Individualized management, comprehensive counseling, and close surveillance are essential to ensure both oncologic safety and favorable reproductive outcomes.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** paclitaxel (PubChem CID 36314), carboplatin (PubChem CID 426756)
- **Diseases:** ovarian cancer (MONDO:0005140)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** MUC1 (mucin 1, cell surface associated) [NCBI Gene 4582] {aka ADMCKD, ADMCKD1, ADTKD2, CA 15-3, CD227, Ca15-3}, PIK3CA (phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 5290] {aka CCM4, CLAPO, CLOVE, CWS5, HMH, MCAP}, WFDC2 (WAP four-disulfide core domain 2) [NCBI Gene 10406] {aka BENP, EDDM4, HE4, WAP5, dJ461P17.6}, HNF1B (HNF1 homeobox B) [NCBI Gene 6928] {aka ADTKD3, FJHN, HNF-1-beta, HNF-1B, HNF1beta, HNF2}, AFP (alpha fetoprotein) [NCBI Gene 174] {aka AFPD, FETA, HPAFP}, MUC16 (mucin 16, cell surface associated) [NCBI Gene 94025] {aka CA125}, GNRH1 (gonadotropin releasing hormone 1) [NCBI Gene 2796] {aka GNRH, GRH, LHRH, LNRH}, PSG2 (pregnancy specific beta-1-glycoprotein 2) [NCBI Gene 5670] {aka CEA, PSBG2, PSG1}, TP53 (tumor protein p53) [NCBI Gene 7157] {aka BCC7, BMFS5, LFS1, P53, TRP53}
- **Diseases:** lymph node (MESH:D000072717), intrauterine fetal death (MESH:D005313), OCCC (MESH:D010051), malignant ovarian mass (MESH:D010049), vaginal bleeding (MESH:D014592), metastasis (MESH:D009362), hypertension (MESH:D006973), cystic lesion (MESH:D052177), FSS (MESH:D007246), stage I disease (MESH:D007676), mucinous (MESH:D002288), weight loss (MESH:D015431), fetal loss (MESH:D005315), EOC (MESH:D000077216), fetal anomaly (MESH:D000013), coronary heart disease (MESH:D003327), endometrioid (MESH:D018269), malignancy (MESH:D009369), tumor rupture (MESH:D012421), serous carcinoma (MESH:D018297), abdominal pain (MESH:D015746), adnexal mass (MESH:D000291)
- **Chemicals:** CA-199 (-), carboplatin (MESH:D016190), Hematoxylin (MESH:D006416), platinum (MESH:D010984), TC (MESH:D013667), paclitaxel (MESH:D017239)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

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## References

17 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12932143/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12932143