Gynecologic oncology
-
Most collaborative studies for the treatment of primary and recurrent ovarian cancer have grouped all epithelial ovarian cancers together, leading to a common therapeutic approach to all the different subtypes. Emerging data, however, support the hypothesis that primary mucinous ovarian cancers are unique histologically, molecularly, and clinically from other epithelial subtypes. The objective of our review was to identify and synthesize the most current information on mucinous ovarian carcinoma with regard to pathologic, molecular, and clinical distinctions. ⋯ Primary mucinous ovarian cancer should be considered separate from the other epithelial ovarian cancers. Ongoing clinical trials in this disease will likely offer improvements in chemotherapeutic agents used to treat women with primary and recurrent mucinous ovarian cancer.