title: Molecular pathogenesis of ovarian borderline tumors: new insights and old challenges.
abstract: Ovarian borderline (low malignant potential) tumors are a puzzling group of neoplasms that do not fall neatly into benign or malignant categories. Their behavior is enigmatic, their pathogenesis unclear, and their clinical management controversial, especially for serous borderline tumors (SBT), the most common type of ovarian borderline tumor. Clarifying the nature of borderline tumors and their relationship to invasive carcinoma has puzzled investigators since the category was created over 30 years ago. Much of the confusion and controversy concerning these tumors is due to a lack of understanding of their pathogenesis and an absence of a model for the development of ovarian carcinoma. This review summarizes recent molecular studies of ovarian borderline tumors with special emphasis on the role of SBT in tumor progression and its relationship to ovarian serous carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, USA. ishih@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Ie-Ming
authors.initials: IeM
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kurman
mesh_terms: D018293:Cystadenoma, Serous / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf