About this Research Topic

Background

Ovarian cancer is an umbrella term for a collection of distinct disease entities (histotypes). Until now, the majority of research has focussed on the most common histotype, high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC), which accounts for 70% of cases. The less common histotypes – including endometrioid, clear cell, mucinous, low-grade serous, carcinosarcoma, and non-epithelial histotypes – have received far less research attention. Accordingly, while major advances in our understanding of HGSOC have led to molecularly-directed therapies that improve patient outcomes, progress in less common histotypes has lagged behind. Notably, many of the uncommon histotypes demonstrate resistance to conventional chemotherapy regimens, and their inherent biological differences suggest most are unlikely to respond to emerging molecular therapeutics designed to target the biology of common ovarian cancer types.

Within the last 5 years, several pivotal studies have outlined the genomic landscape in some of the less common histotypes. However, an accelerated research effort is required to expand our knowledge of these diseases and translate this into additional effective treatment options for patients. Moreover, it is now recognized that HGSOC comprises multiple molecular subtypes, each of which may be susceptible to different molecularly-directed therapeutic interventions.

Many of the uncommon ovarian cancer histotypes have received very little research attention to date; a number of specific subtypes of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma are also relatively under-studied. Accordingly, many of these patient groups are under-served by currently available treatment options. An improved understanding of the clinical and molecular behavior of these diseases is required to help optimize management strategies, identify molecularly-directed therapeutic opportunities and improve patient outcomes.

This Research Topic aims to bring together studies that advance our understanding of uncommon ovarian cancer histotypes and subtypes, including research that highlights potential treatment approaches for improving the management of these patient groups. We welcome submissions on research topics relating to low-grade serous, clear cell, endometrioid, and mucinous ovarian cancer, as well as studies of ovarian carcinosarcoma, malignant Brenner tumors, sex chord stromal tumors, germ cell tumors, and other uncommon ovarian cancer types. Research on specific subtypes of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (e.g. those with CCNE1 gain) is also welcome.

Articles are welcomed from all study types, including fundamental biological research, robust clinicopathological cohort studies, molecular profiling studies, and translational studies. The topic aims to appeal to readers from both clinical and scientific backgrounds.

Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.

Dr. Robb Hollis receives honoraria of GlaxoSmithKline for analytical support provided for NICE reimbursement applications (first-line niraparib in ovarian cancer) and Consultancy fees of Decibio for interviews on new technologies and their utilization. The other editors declare no conflict of interests.

Keywords: ovarian cancer, histotypes subtypes, gynaecologic oncology, molecular profiling, cancer treatment, molecular therapies, treatment response, rare tumours, endometrioid, clear cell mucinous, low grade serous, carcinosarcoma

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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