Objective: To analyze up-to-data knowledge in the field of molecular characterization of epithelial ovarian borderline tumors with respect to clinical management and prognosis.
Design: Review.
Setting: Oncogynecological Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Charles University in Prague, First Faculty of Medicine, and General Faculty Hospital, Prague.
Methods: Based on literature search and own experimental data in the field of molecular biology of ovarian cancer and borderline tumors of ovary, we summarize up-to-date knowledge of molecular differences and specific features of BTO with respect to implementation of these knowledge into the clinical management.
Results and conclusion: We suppose that spectrum of genomic changes (i.e. genetic and epigenetic) causing tumor transformation is limited and these changes take place in stem or progenitor cell. Analysis of genomic changes can help to define certain subtypes of BTO and, correlated to clinical characteristics, to identify subtypes with different biological behavior. Such molecular typing of BTO allows to individualize treatment.