A therapeutic approach to low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma

Abstract

Low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) has less aggressive behavior and a better clinical outcome than high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). Considering that this malignancy is relatively chemoresistant, surgery is the keystone of treatment, with a strong recommendation for maximal cytoreduction. Women with stage IA-IB disease should undergo observation alone after primary cytoreductive surgery. In contrast, observation, chemotherapy, or endocrine therapy are possible options for those with stage IC-IIA disease. Patients with stage IIB-IV disease receive either chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel for six cycles followed by endocrine therapy, most commonly with aromatase inhibitors, or endocrine therapy alone until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Surgery, chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy are also used in patients with recurrent disease. Targeted agents, especially mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitors and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors, are currently under evaluation in this clinical setting. Additional research on the genomics of LGSOC to better define the activating gene mutations involved in the carcinogenesis is strongly warranted to improve the prognosis with this malignancy.