Hereditary ovarian cancers: state of the art

Minerva Med. 2019 Aug;110(4):301-319. doi: 10.23736/S0026-4806.19.06091-9. Epub 2019 May 6.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis / genetics
  • Female
  • Genes, BRCA1
  • Genes, BRCA2
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / therapy
  • Population Surveillance
  • Prophylactic Surgical Procedures