title: Role of Fallopian Tubes in the Development of Ovarian Cancer.
abstract: Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancy and the fifth cause of cancer death in women in the United States. The most common and lethal histologic subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer is high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), which generally presents at an advanced stage. HGSC may be associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. Historically, HGSC was believed to originate from the ovarian epithelial cells. However, more recent evidence supports the idea that most ovarian cancers originate in the fallopian tube epithelium in both high-risk women and in the general population. Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinomas may ultimately evolve into ovarian or peritoneal cancer. As a result, prophylactic salpingectomy with conservation of the ovaries has become an increasingly more common practice for premenopausal women undergoing risk-reducing surgery. Because the fallopian tube is now recognized as the most common potential site of origin of ovarian carcinoma, there is ongoing research to explore molecular and genetic factors that may be critical in the development of this disease. Further research is needed to identify novel opportunities for early detection and screening of ovarian cancer with the ultimate goal of increasing overall survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Electronic address: mcorzo@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Maria D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Iniesta
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Hospital Italiano de San Justo Agustin Rocca, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Maria Guadalupe
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Patrono
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Karen H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Pedro T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Ramirez
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D005185:Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017697:Premenopause; D065286:Prophylactic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D020379:Risk Adjustment / Q000379:methods; D058994:Salpingectomy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D019313:BRCA1 Protein; C492913:BRCA1 protein, human; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; C551750:BRCA2 protein, human
keywords: Fallopian tube; HGSC; Ovarian cancer; STIC; Salpingectomy