title: DNA methylation changes in epithelial ovarian cancer histotypes.
abstract: Survival after a diagnosis of ovarian cancer has not improved, and despite histological differences, treatment is similar for all cases. Understanding the molecular basis for ovarian cancer risk and prognosis is fundamental, and to this end much has been gleaned about genetic changes contributing to risk, and to a lesser extent, survival. There's considerable evidence for genetic differences between the four pathologically defined histological subtypes; however, the contribution of epigenetics is less well documented. In this report, we review alterations in DNA methylation in ovarian cancer, focusing on histological subtypes, and studies examining the roles of methylation in determining therapy response. As epigenetics is making its way into clinical care, we review the application of cell free DNA methylation to ovarian cancer diagnosis and care. Finally, we comment on recurrent limitations in the DNA methylation literature for ovarian cancer, which can and should be addressed to mature this field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.
authors.forename: Madalene A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Earp
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States. Electronic address: cunningham.julie@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Julie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
keywords: Histotypes; Methylation; Ovarian cancer