Abstract
Since the emergence of data about the natural history of ovarian cancer (OC) approximately 150 years ago, tremendous advances have been made in the area of the molecular pathology of this aggressive cancer. However, OC remains one of the most lethal gynecological cancers worldwide, with no adequate screening and prevention program available yet to avoid diagnosis in advanced stages. Despite OC still being the silent killer, it has seen dynamic shifts in its classification, staging, and theories regarding its origins in the last years. In fact, the term OC has experienced a shift to include primary peritoneal and tubal cancer, as these tumors behave identically. The prognosis and treatment of OC are dependent on multiple factors, including tumor biology and extent of tumor spread, which has recently been reclassified in a new FIGO staging system. In the literature throughout the years, attempts to identify the origins of these heterogeneous tumor entities have better guided our diagnostic strategies and therapeutic arsenal. This chapter aims to give a general overview of the epidemiology, the natural history as well as the pathology of epithelial OC.
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SN and DT wrote the first draft of the chapter and shared a preliminary content discussion. KE coordinated the development of the chapter and revised the manuscript. BE revised and validated the pathology data of the manuscript. The final draft was reviewed and approved by all the authors. The contents of the chapter reflect the authors’ perspectives and not of their institutions of affiliation.
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Nasser, S., El Bairi, K., Trapani, D., Efared, B. (2021). Origins and Pathology of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Brief Overview. In: El Bairi, K. (eds) Ovarian Cancer Biomarkers. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1873-4_1
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