Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
An Ex Vivo Model of Ovarian Cancer Peritoneal Metastasis Using Human Omentum
Published on: January 26, 2024
Occult metastasis in early ovarian cancers: risk factors and associated prognosis
Ali Ayhan1, Murat Gultekin, Nilufer Yigit Celik
1Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to define risk factors associated with the occult metastasis in early stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC), and to compare the survivals in respect to occult metastasis.
Study Design:
A retrospective review of 169 patients with clinically early stage EOC was performed.
Results:
Overall, 53 patients (53/169, 31.4%) were upstaged. The most common occult metastasis was the lymphatic involvement (22/53; 41.5%). Overall, 64.1% (34/53) of these upstaged patients had unrecognized disease in the upper abdomen or retroperitoneal space. Multivariable analysis revealed 3 factors to be associated with occult metastasis: Ca-125 levels > or = 500 U/mL (P = .04), positive peritoneal cytology (P = .001), and grade III disease (P = .04). Five-year survival rates were 61.83% and 88.25%, respectively, in patients with or without occult metastasis. Among the upstaged patients, omental or peritoneal metastasis revealed the worst prognosis.
Conclusion:
Proper surgical staging is an important issue in early stage ovarian cancers, particularly in patients with high Ca-125 levels, positive cytology, and high grade tumor.
Related Concept Videos
02:07Oogenesis
02:30Metastasis
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
02:07Tumor Progression
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...