Mutation Analysis and Genomic Imbalances of Cells Found in Effusion Fluids from Patients with Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian carcinomas and carcinosarcomas often cause malignant effusions, an accumulation within serous cavities of fluid containing cancer cells. Few studies have focused on the molecular alterations and genetic mechanisms behind effusion formation. The present study investigated the mutation status of and in effusion fluids from 103 patients with ovarian cancer. In addition, array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) analysis was performed on 20 effusions from patients with high-grade serous carcinoma (10 cases positive for mutation and 10 with wild-type). mutations, two of which were novel: c.826_830delCCTGT and c.475_476GC>TT, were identified in 44% of the cases. Mutations in , and were identified in two, two and four cases, respectively. None of the effusions analysed showed or mutations. The aCGH analysis revealed highly imbalanced genomes similar to those described in primary ovarian carcinomas. No specific profile was indicated to distinguish tumors with mutations from those without. The molecular profiling of cells found in effusion fluids from patients with ovarian cancer thus showed considerable molecular heterogeneity. seems to be the most frequently mutated gene in these cells and may serve a leading role in the metastatic process.