title: Low-grade serous carcinoma: molecular features and contemporary treatment strategies.
abstract: Epithelial ovarian carcinoma consists of several subtypes, including high-grade and low-grade serous carcinoma. In the recent past, women with all subtypes of epithelial ovarian carcinoma have been treated similarly and are included in the same clinical trials. However, a distinction has emerged between the type I, low-grade tumors and the type 2, higher-grade epithelial malignancies. Low-grade serous carcinoma exhibits different molecular and clinical features from the other epithelial subtypes, as well as some degree of chemotherapy resistance. This review summarizes the genetic, molecular and clinical characteristics of low-grade serous disease and provides an appraisal of the management strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Angarita
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cholakian
authors.forename: Amanda N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Fader
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: chemoresistance; chemotherapy; epithelial ovarian cancer; hormonal therapies; low-grade serous cancer; surgical cytoreduction; targeted agents; two-tier grading system