Contemporary management of ovarian germ cell tumors and remaining controversies

Abstract

Ovarian germ cell tumors (GCTs) are rare in adults, but are more common in adolescents and young adults. Contemporary management of ovarian GCTs is evolving as collaboration among pediatric, medical, and gynecologic oncologists increases, and studies increasingly incorporate female adult patients. Despite an improved understanding of ovarian GCT, many questions remain. Areas of continued controversy include which stage I ovarian GCTs and immature teratomas can be observed without adjuvant therapy, appropriate risk classification for ovarian GCT, surveillance strategies, and optimal therapy for recurrence. These topics as well as active areas of clinical investigation are discussed.

Keywords: Germ cell tumor; Ovarian cancer; Teratoma; microRNA.