title: Ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous disease.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the molecular profiles of different histologic types of epithelial ovarian cancer before the disease has metastasized beyond the ovary. Stage 1 epithelial ovarian cancers were chosen for analysis of early genetic events associated with different cell types. Allelotyping of 47 cases was performed using 224 polymorphic markers. Analysis with Fisher's exact test found markers specific for grade 3 tumors and clear cell histology. Hierarchal clustering analysis using dChip software revealed that the pattern of allele loss in eight regions on four chromosomes led to grouping of grade 3 tumors, endometrioid (grades 1 and 2) tumors, and clear cell tumors. We conclude that ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous disease in which histologic phenotypes correlate with distinct genetic patterns.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Yuk-Fu
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berkowitz
authors.forename: Samuel C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Mok
authors.forename: Christina A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bandera
mesh_terms: D018262:Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / Q000235:genetics; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid; D018282:Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000235:genetics; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology