Incidence and Mortality
Ovarian borderline tumors (i.e., tumors of low malignant potential) account for 15% of all epithelial ovarian cancers. Nearly 75% of borderline tumors are stage I at the time of diagnosis.[
A review of 22 series (which included 953 patients), with a mean follow-up of 7 years, revealed a survival rate of 92% for patients with advanced-stage ovarian borderline tumors, if patients with so-called invasive implants were excluded. The causes of death in these patients were determined to be benign complications of disease (e.g., small bowel obstruction), complications of therapy, and only rarely (0.7% of patients), malignant transformation.[
Another large retrospective study showed that early stage, serous histology, and younger age are associated with a more favorable prognosis in patients with ovarian borderline tumors.[
Endometrioid Tumors
Endometrioid borderline tumors are less common and should not be regarded as malignant because they seldom, if ever, metastasize. However, malignant transformation can occur and may be associated with a similar tumor outside of the ovary. Such tumors are the result of either a second primary or rupture of the primary endometrial tumor.[
References:
Fédération Internationale de Gynécologie et d'Obstétrique (FIGO) Staging
FIGO and the American Joint Committee on Cancer have designated staging to define ovarian borderline tumors; the FIGO system is most commonly used.[
Stage | Definition | Illustration |
---|---|---|
FIGO = Fédération Internationale de Gynécologie et d'Obstétrique. | ||
a Adapted from FIGO Committee for Gynecologic Oncology.[ |
||
I | Tumor confined to ovaries or fallopian tube(s). | ![]() |
IA | Tumor limited to one ovary (capsule intact) or fallopian tube; no tumor on ovarian or fallopian tube surface; no malignant cells in the ascites or peritoneal washings. | |
IB | Tumor limited to both ovaries (capsules intact) or fallopian tubes; no tumor on ovarian or fallopian tube surface; no malignant cells in the ascites or peritoneal washings. | |
IC | Tumor limited to one or both ovaries or fallopian tubes, with any of the following: | |
IC1: Surgical spill. | ||
IC2: Capsule ruptured before surgery or tumor on ovarian or fallopian tube surface. | ||
IC3: Malignant cells in the ascites or peritoneal washings. |
Stage | Definition | Illustration |
---|---|---|
FIGO = Fédération Internationale de Gynécologie et d'Obstétrique. | ||
a Adapted from FIGO Committee for Gynecologic Oncology.[ |
||
II | Tumor involves one or both ovaries or fallopian tubes with pelvic extension (below the pelvic brim) or primary peritoneal cancer. | ![]() |
IIA | Extension and/or implants on uterus and/or fallopian tubes and/or ovaries. | |
IIB | Extension to other pelvic intraperitoneal tissues. |
Stage | Definition | Illustration |
---|---|---|
FIGO = Fédération Internationale de Gynécologie et d'Obstétrique. | ||
a Adapted from FIGO Committee for Gynecologic Oncology.[ |
||
III | Tumor involves one or both ovaries or fallopian tubes, or primary peritoneal cancer, with cytologically or histologically confirmed spread to the peritoneum outside the pelvis and/or metastasis to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. | |
IIIA1 | Positive retroperitoneal lymph nodes only (cytologically or histologically proven): | ![]() |
IIIA1(I): Metastasis ≤10 mm in greatest dimension. | ||
IIIA1(ii): Metastasis >10 mm in greatest dimension. | ||
IIIA2 | Microscopic extrapelvic (above the pelvic brim) peritoneal involvement with or without positive retroperitoneal lymph nodes. | |
IIIB | Macroscopic peritoneal metastasis beyond the pelvis ≤2 cm in greatest dimension, with or without metastasis to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. | ![]() |
IIIC | Macroscopic peritoneal metastasis beyond the pelvis >2 cm in greatest dimension, with or without metastasis to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes (includes extension of tumor to capsule of liver and spleen without parenchymal involvement of either organ). | ![]() |
Stage | Definition | Illustration |
---|---|---|
FIGO = Fédération Internationale de Gynécologie et d'Obstétrique. | ||
a Adapted from FIGO Committee for Gynecologic Oncology.[ |
||
IV | Distant metastasis excluding peritoneal metastases. | ![]() |
IVA | Pleural effusion with positive cytology. | |
IVB | Parenchymal metastases and metastases to extra-abdominal organs (including inguinal lymph nodes and lymph nodes outside of the abdominal cavity). |
References:
Treatment Options for Early-Stage Ovarian Borderline Tumors
Treatment options for early-stage ovarian borderline tumors include the following:
Surgery
In early-stage disease (stage I or II), no additional treatment is indicated for patients with a completely resected borderline tumor.[
Importance of Staging for Treatment
The value of complete staging has not been demonstrated for patients with early-stage cases, but the opposite ovary should be carefully evaluated for evidence of bilateral disease. Although the impact of surgical staging on therapeutic management is not defined, in a study of 29 patients with presumed localized disease, 7 patients were upstaged following complete surgical staging.[
In two other studies, 16% and 18% of patients with presumed localized borderline tumors were upstaged as a result of a staging laparotomy.[
In another study, patients with localized intraperitoneal disease and negative lymph nodes had a low incidence of recurrence (5%), whereas patients with localized intraperitoneal disease and positive lymph nodes had a statistically significant higher incidence of recurrence (50%).[
Fertility Preservation
When a patient wishes to retain childbearing potential, a unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is adequate therapy.[
In a large series, the relapse rate was higher for patients who underwent more conservative surgery (cystectomy > unilateral oophorectomy > total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy [TAHBSO]). However, differences were not statistically significant, and survival was nearly 100% for all groups.[
Current Clinical Trials
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References:
Treatment Options for Advanced-Stage Ovarian Borderline Tumors
Treatment options for advanced-stage ovarian borderline tumors include the following:
Surgery
Patients with advanced disease should undergo a total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, node sampling, and aggressive cytoreductive surgery. Patients with stage III or IV disease with no gross residual tumor had a 100% survival rate in some series regardless of the follow-up duration.[
Chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy are not indicated for patients with more advanced-stage disease and microscopic or gross residual disease. Scant evidence exists that postoperative chemotherapy or radiation therapy alters the course of this disease in any beneficial way.[
In a review of 150 patients with borderline ovarian tumors, the survival of patients with a residual tumor of less than 2 cm was significantly better than survival for those with a residual tumor from 2 cm to 5 cm or more than 5 cm (P < .05).[
Current Clinical Trials
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References:
Treatment Options for Low-Grade Serous Carcinoma
Low-grade serous carcinoma (LGSC), also known as invasive micropapillary serous carcinoma, arises either from serous borderline tumors or de novo. These tumors are uncommon, making up 5% of ovarian carcinomas, and occur in younger women. They have a better clinical prognosis than high-grade serous carcinomas. Molecular characterization of LGSC shows lower frequency of TP53 mutations, greater expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors, and a high prevalence of BRAF and NRAS mutations.[
Treatment approaches for patients with recurrent disease can include cytoreductive surgery, cytotoxic chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or targeted agents.
Treatment options for LGSC include the following:
Surgery with or without chemotherapy
While complete cytoreductive surgery is a major component of the treatment approach to LGSC, these tumors tend to be chemoresistant.[
Secondary cytoreductive surgery
Evidence (secondary cytoreductive surgery):
Targeted therapies
As LGSC is relatively chemoresistant, attention has focused on targeted therapies.
References:
The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above.
This summary was renamed from Ovarian Low Malignant Potential Tumors Treatment.
This summary was extensively revised.
This summary is written and maintained by the
Purpose of This Summary
This PDQ cancer information summary for health professionals provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed, evidence-based information about the treatment of ovarian borderline tumors. It is intended as a resource to inform and assist clinicians in the care of their patients. It does not provide formal guidelines or recommendations for making health care decisions.
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Last Revised: 2024-05-01
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