Low-grade serous carcinoma: molecular features and contemporary treatment strategies

Epithelial ovarian carcinoma consists of several subtypes, including high-grade and low-grade serous carcinoma. In the recent past, women with all subtypes of epithelial ovarian carcinoma have been treated similarly and are included in the same clinical trials. However, a distinction has emerged between the type I, low-grade tumors and the type 2, higher-grade epithelial malignancies. Low-grade serous carcinoma exhibits different molecular and clinical features from the other epithelial subtypes, as well as some degree of chemotherapy resistance. This review summarizes the genetic, molecular and clinical characteristics of low-grade serous disease and provides an appraisal of the management strategies.