abstract: Low-grade serous primary peritoneal carcinoma

Objective

10% of women with serous ovarian cancer have low-grade carcinomas. These patients are diagnosed at a younger age, have a longer overall survival and a lower response rate to platinum-based chemotherapy compared to women with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. It remains unclear if these features are similar in women with low-grade primary peritoneal cancer (PPC). To further explore this issue, a retrospective analysis of the clinical and pathologic characteristics of women with low-grade serous PPC was performed.

 Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first report of women with low-grade serous PPC. Similar to low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, patients with low-grade serous PPC have high rates of persistent disease at the completion of primary treatment yet a long overall survival. Further study focusing specifically on low-grade serous ovarian and primary peritoneal carcinomas is needed to determine the optimal treatment of these diseases.

Research Highlights

► This study is the first reported series of women with low-grade serous primary peritoneal cancer.
► The pathogenesis and clinical behavior of low-grade serous ovarian and primary peritoneal are distinct from high-grade serous tumors.
► Women with low-grade primary peritoneal cancer have high rates of persistent disease at the completion of primary treatment, yet have a prolonged survival.