title: Ovarian cancer: diagnostic, biological and prognostic aspects.
abstract: Ovarian cancer remains the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, owing to late detection, intrinsic and acquired chemoresistance and remarkable heterogeneity. Despite optimization of surgical and chemotherapy protocols and initiation of clinical trials incorporating targeted therapy, only modest gains have been achieved in prolonging survival in this cancer. This review provides an update of recent developments in our understanding of the etiology, origin, diagnosis, progression and treatment of this malignancy, with emphasis on clinically relevant genetic classification approaches. In the authors' opinion, focused effort directed at understanding the molecular make-up of recurrent and metastatic ovarian cancer, while keeping in mind the unique molecular character of each of its histological types, is central to our effort to improve patient outcome in this cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, Norwegian Radium Hospital, N-0310 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Claes G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Tropé
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: chemotherapy resistance; microenvironment; ovarian cancer; prognosis; progression