» Articles » PMID: 38835797

Exploring Novel Approaches in the Systemic Therapy of Low-grade Serous Carcinoma of the Ovary: a Literature Review

Abstract

By presenting a comprehensive analysis of low-grade serous carcinomas (LGSCs), a subset of epithelial ovarian cancers, this review delves into their distinct molecular characteristics, clinicopathological features and systemic therapy options, emphasizing their differences from high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSCs). Notably, LGSCs exhibit prevalent RAS/RAF/MEK/MAPK pathway activation, KRAS and BRAF mutations, and infrequent p53 mutations. While chemotherapy is commonly employed, LGSCs display lower responsiveness compared to HGSCs. Hormone therapy, particularly endocrine maintenance therapy, is explored due to the higher estrogen receptor expression. Novel therapeutic approaches involving CDK4/6 inhibitors, MEK inhibitors, and antiangiogenic agents like bevacizumab are also investigated. Ongoing clinical trials are striving to enhance LGSC treatment strategies, offering valuable insights for future therapeutic advancements in this challenging ovarian cancer subtype.

References
1.
Stark D, Nankivell M, Pujade-Lauraine E, Kristensen G, Elit L, Stockler M . Standard chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab in advanced ovarian cancer: quality-of-life outcomes from the International Collaboration on Ovarian Neoplasms (ICON7) phase 3 randomised trial. Lancet Oncol. 2013; 14(3):236-43. PMC: 3596061. DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(12)70567-3. View

2.
Malpica A, Deavers M, Lu K, Bodurka D, Atkinson E, Gershenson D . Grading ovarian serous carcinoma using a two-tier system. Am J Surg Pathol. 2004; 28(4):496-504. DOI: 10.1097/00000478-200404000-00009. View

3.
Bodurka D, Deavers M, Tian C, Sun C, Malpica A, Coleman R . Reclassification of serous ovarian carcinoma by a 2-tier system: a Gynecologic Oncology Group Study. Cancer. 2011; 118(12):3087-94. PMC: 11809296. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.26618. View

4.
Kobel M, Kang E . The Evolution of Ovarian Carcinoma Subclassification. Cancers (Basel). 2022; 14(2). PMC: 8774015. DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020416. View

5.
Gershenson D, Sun C, Lu K, Coleman R, Sood A, Malpica A . Clinical behavior of stage II-IV low-grade serous carcinoma of the ovary. Obstet Gynecol. 2006; 108(2):361-8. DOI: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000227787.24587.d1. View