title: Serous ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers: a common disease or separate entities - a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this systematic review is to analyze data on risk factors, epidemiology, clinicopathology and molecular biology from studies comparing primary peritoneal cancer, fallopian tube cancer and ovarian cancer of serous histology, in order to achieve a greater understanding of whether or not these disorders should be considered as separate entities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and MEDLINE. Case-control studies comparing primary serous peritoneal or fallopian tube carcinomas with primary serous ovarian carcinomas or a control group were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight studies were found eligible. Primary peritoneal cancer patients were older, had higher parity, were more often obese and had poorer survival compared to ovarian cancer patients. Differences in protein expression patterns of Her2/neu, estrogen and progestin receptors and frequency of loss of heterozygosity differed between primary peritoneal cancer and primary ovarian cancer patients. No major differences were found between primary fallopian tube cancer and primary ovarian cancer. The proportion of serous tubal intraepithelial carcinomas (STIC) was lower in primary peritoneal cancer and primary ovarian cancer compared to primary fallopian tube cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Except from differences in the proportion of STIC only few differences between primary fallopian tube cancer and primary ovarian cancer have been found. In contrast, observed differences in risk factor profile, clinicopathologic and prognostic factors, as well as in the molecular patterns, indicate that peritoneal cancer and ovarian cancer may be linked to different carcinogenic pathways.
authors.affiliation: Gynaecological Clinic, The Juliane Marie Center, Rigshospitalet University Hospital of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 København Ø, Denmark. Electronic address: riedahlsorensen@dadlnet.dk.
authors.forename: Rie D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.affiliation: Gynaecologic and Obstetric Clinic, Roskilde Sygehus, Køgevej 7-13, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark. Electronic address: tihsc@regionsjaelland.dk.
authors.forename: Tine H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Schnack
authors.affiliation: Molecular Unit, Department of Pathology, Herlev University Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730 Herlev, Denmark. Electronic address: mona.aarenstrup.karlsen@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Mona A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Karlsen
authors.affiliation: Gynaecological Clinic, The Juliane Marie Center, Rigshospitalet University Hospital of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 København Ø, Denmark. Electronic address: Claus.Hogdall@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Claus K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Høgdall
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D005185:Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Epithelial ovarian cancer; Fallopian tube cancer; Molecular biology; Primary peritoneal cancer; Risk factors; Survival