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Review
. 2010 Jun;117(3):491-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2010.02.010. Epub 2010 Mar 23.

Unmasking the complexities of mucinous ovarian carcinoma

Michael Frumovitz  1 , Kathleen M Schmeler, Anais Malpica, Anil K Sood, David M Gershenson
Affiliations
Review

Unmasking the complexities of mucinous ovarian carcinoma

Michael Frumovitz et al. Gynecol Oncol. 2010 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: Most collaborative studies for the treatment of primary and recurrent ovarian cancer have grouped all epithelial ovarian cancers together, leading to a common therapeutic approach to all the different subtypes. Emerging data, however, support the hypothesis that primary mucinous ovarian cancers are unique histologically, molecularly, and clinically from other epithelial subtypes. The objective of our review was to identify and synthesize the most current information on mucinous ovarian carcinoma with regard to pathologic, molecular, and clinical distinctions.

Methods: We searched PubMed for English-language articles with the MeSH term "mucinous ovarian carcinoma" published between 1990 and 2009.

Results: On pathologic examination, primary invasive mucinous ovarian cancer often can be seen next to areas of benign and borderline mucinous histology, suggesting a continuum to malignant progression not observed in the other epithelial ovarian lesions. When compared to serous ovarian tumors, primary mucinous ovarian tumors have a significantly higher prevalence of KRAS mutations and a lower frequency of BRCA and p53 abnormalities. In addition, metastatic primary disease and recurrent mucinous cancers have a substantially worse prognosis than other epithelial ovarian cancers and are largely platinum and taxane resistant.

Conclusions: Primary mucinous ovarian cancer should be considered separate from the other epithelial ovarian cancers. Ongoing clinical trials in this disease will likely offer improvements in chemotherapeutic agents used to treat women with primary and recurrent mucinous ovarian cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Intraepithelial (non-invasive) mucinous carcinoma
Figure 2
Figure 2. Expansile (confluent) invasive mucinous carcinoma
Figure 3
Figure 3. Infiltrative invasive mucinous carcinoma
Figure 4
Figure 4. Schema for Gynecologic Oncology Group/Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup Study for women with advanced or recurrent mucinous ovarian cancer
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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