REVIEW  UPDATES IN OVARIAN CANCER AND SECONDARY PERITONEAL TUMORS 

Minerva Medica 2019 August;110(4):301-19

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4806.19.06091-9

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Hereditary ovarian cancers: state of the art

Angela TOSS ¹, Eleonora MOLINARO ¹, Margaret SAMMARINI ², Maria C. DEL SAVIO ², Laura CORTESI ¹, Fabio FACCHINETTI ², Giovanni GRANDI ³ ✉

¹ Department of Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy; ² Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Mother, Child and Adult, Polyclinic University Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; ³ Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Pediatrics, Polyclinic University Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy

The identification of a mutation in ovarian cancer (OC) predisposition genes plays a crucial role in the management of cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. In healthy carriers, the detection of a specific mutation might justify more intensive and personalised surveillance programmes, chemopreventive measures, and prophylactic surgeries. Moreover, the identification of a mutation in affected OC patients might provide fundamental knowledge of the tumour pathogenesis, thus guiding treatment choices. This is a comprehensive review of the molecular pathways involved in the pathogenesis of hereditary ovarian cancers, the clinical-pathological features of these tumours, and the potential implications for their prevention and clinical management.

KEY WORDS: Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome; Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors; Peritoneal neoplasms