THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BORDERLINE OVARIAN-TUMORS AND EPITHELIAL OVARIAN-CARCINOMA - EPIDEMIOLOGIC, PATHOLOGICAL, AND MOLECULAR ASPECTS

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOT) are a low-grade form of ovarian malign ancy with significantly less aggressive behavior than classical epithe lial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). Yet, a subset of these tumors can progre ss and be lethal. Prognostic factors related to the development of BOT are similar to those for EOC. BOT with aneuploid DNA content have a w orse prognosis; this trend is similar to that found in EOC. Patterns o f loss of heterozygosity of some chromosomal abnormalities suggest tha t some, but not all BOT may evolve into more invasive tumors. Molecula r biology has provided some clues to the pathogenesis of this entity. Increasing frequency of K-ras mutations are associated with EOC compar ed to BOT or benign lesions of the ovary. Platelet-derived growth fact or and PDGF-alpha receptor are overexpressed in some BOT and EOC, but not in benign tumors or normal ovaries. These genetic markers suggest a closer relationship between a subset of BOT and invasive EOC. Furthe r analysis of genetic abnormalities may delineate the relationship bet ween BOT and EOC better, and will hopefully lead to a unifying hypothe sis as to the origin of these important ovarian lesions. (C) 1996 Acad emic Press, Inc.