Molecular abnormalities in ovarian carcinoma: clinical, morphological and therapeutic correlates

Abstract

The histopathological classification of ovarian surface epithelial carcinomas (referred to hereafter as 'ovarian carcinoma') has shifted over the past 10 years to reflect more clearly our understanding of molecular events during carcinogenesis. Ovarian carcinoma is no longer viewed as a single entity but as multiple disease processes, with each having different molecular pathways altered during oncogenesis, resulting in differences in clinical and pathological features, such as biomarker expression, pattern of spread and response to chemotherapy. There are five subtypes of ovarian carcinoma that are sufficiently distinct and well-characterized that they should be considered to be different diseases, i.e. high-grade serous, clear cell, endometrioid, mucinous and low-grade serous, from most to least common, respectively. This review summarizes the molecular abnormalities of these five ovarian carcinoma subtypes, relating them to clinical and pathological features.

Ovarian Cancer: A Heterogeneous Disease

“…Diagnosis therefore implies exhaustive sampling. The most common molecular alterations are KRAS mutations, occurring in 75% of primary MC; these have been identified in benign and in borderline areas as well as in adjacent carcinomas, supporting the sequential tumorigenesis process going from a low-grade malignant mucinous lesion to an MC [5,[33][34][35][36]. HER2 amplification is also found in around 20% of MC.…”

Crk-like adapter protein regulates CCL19/CCR7-mediated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via ERK signaling pathway in epithelial ovarian carcinomas

“…Pathologically, EOC is broadly classified as serous or non-serous histology. Each subtype has distinct clinical characteristics and is associated with different genetic risk factors and molecular events [3,4]. Therefore, understanding of molecular mechanisms of EOC is crucial to the treatment of ovarian cancer.…”

Time to diagnosis of Type I or II invasive epithelial ovarian cancers: a multicentre observational study using patient questionnaire and primary care records

“…The EOC were classified into borderline and invasive EOC. We grouped the iEOC into Type I (low‐grade serous, low/moderate‐grade endometrioid, clear cell and mucinous cancers) and Type II [moderate/high‐grade serous, high‐grade endometrioid, undifferentiated, malignant mixed mesodermal (carcinosarcomas)] cancers 22, 23. Borderline tumours with their excellent survival rates, younger age of onset, differing risk factors and favourable response to surgery were assessed separately from iEOC.…”