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Pathogenesis of Ovarian Cancers

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Abstract

Objective

To review our current understanding of the molecular genetic events involved in the development of epithelial ovarian cancers.

Methods

Mllecular biologic techniques have been used to examine the role of growth-stimulatory genes (oncogenes) and -inhibitory genes (tumor suppressors) in ovarian cancer.

Results

A number of different peptide growth factors and their receptors are expressed by normal and malignant ovarian epithelial cells. Howveer, the role, if any, of growth factors in ovarian carcinogenesis or maintenance of the transformed phenotype remains unknown. Amplification and overexpression of the HER-2/neu and c-myc oncogenes occur in a significant fraction of epithelial ovarian cancers (20–30%). Overexpression ofHER-2/neu has correlated with poor survival in some studies, whereas c-myc ampiification is more common in serous cancers. Mttation of the K-ras oncogene frequently occurs in borderline ovarian tumors, but is less in invasive epithelial ovarian cancers. Mttation ofthep53 tumor suppressor gene occurs in approximately half of advanced (stage III/IV) ovarian cancers and in 15% of early (stage IA/IB) cases. Most recently, preliminary studies have focused on the role of other tumor suppressor genes, cyclins, WAF1, and DNA mismatch repair genes.

Conclusion

An understanding of the molecular events involved in the pathogenesis of epithelial ovarian cancer is beginning to evolve. Improvements in early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of this deadly disease are dependent on further progress in this area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obttetrics and Gynecology, and the Departments of Medicine and Immunology, Duke University Medical Center and the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, Durham, North Carolina, 27710, USA, Box 3079

    Andrew Berchuck MD, Al Elbendary MD, Laura Havrilesky BA, Gustavo C. Rodriguez MD & Robert C. Bast Jr MD

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  1. Andrew Berchuck MD
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  2. Al Elbendary MD
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  3. Laura Havrilesky BA
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  4. Gustavo C. Rodriguez MD
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Supported by grant CA55640 from the National Cancer Institute.

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Berchuck, A., Elbendary, A., Havrilesky, L. et al. Pathogenesis of Ovarian Cancers. Reprod. Sci. 1, 181–190 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1177/107155769400100302

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