Histotype and molecular subtype integration in epithelial ovarian cancer: implications for targeted treatment.
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- 2Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis(Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. [email protected].
- 4Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis(Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. [email protected].
Abstract
Ovarian cancer remains a major global health burden among women, ranking eighth in both cancer incidence and cancer mortality worldwide in 2024, with an estimated 330,731 new cases and 203,850 deaths. Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) accounts for more than 90% of ovarian cancers and comprises five major histological subtypes with distinct biological behavior, molecular alterations, and therapeutic vulnerabilities. However, most EOC histotypes continue to be managed primarily with surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy, underscoring the need to better define histotype-informed molecular targets and precision therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes the histological features, frequent molecular alterations, dysregulated signaling pathways, and clinically relevant protein-expression patterns across major EOC histotypes, with emphasis on their potential therapeutic implications. Representative clinical and preclinical evidence supporting histotype-specific targeted therapies is also discussed, with attention to differences in therapeutic actionability and evidence maturity. Building on this histotype-specific evidence, an integrated histotype-molecular therapeutic stratification framework covering five major EOC histotypes is proposed. By integrating histologic context with molecular profiling, this framework may help refine precision-guided therapeutic approaches and complement conventional management. Nevertheless, the clinical applicability and long-term benefits of therapies guided by this stratification framework remain to be confirmed in prospective studies.
Related
- Molecular Heterogeneity of Core Binding Factor Acute Myeloid Leukemia (CBF-AML): Implications for Prognosis and for Treatment.
- Epithelial-mesenchymal transition plasticity in breast cancer: regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic implications
- Early mobilization in neurocritical care as a threshold-regulated intervention: a narrative review of mechanistic integration and implications for neurological recovery and physiological stability
- Waterpipe smoke condensate activates autophagy in non-tumorigenic lung epithelial cells: Implications for inflammation and stemness
- Artificial Intelligence, Multi-Omics, and Multimodal Integration in Precision Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: From Biological Insights to Treatment Decisions
BibTeX
@article{liu2026histotype,
title = {{Histotype and molecular subtype integration in epithelial ovarian cancer: implications for targeted treatment.}},
author = {Shuyi Liu and Chaoyang Sun},
journal = {Cancer metastasis reviews},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s10555-026-10385-4},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42891872},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Histotype and molecular subtype integration in epithelial ovarian cancer: implications for targeted treatment.
AU - Shuyi Liu
AU - Chaoyang Sun
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/17
JO - Cancer metastasis reviews
DO - 10.1007/s10555-026-10385-4
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42891872
AB - Ovarian cancer remains a major global health burden among women, ranking eighth in both cancer incidence and cancer mortality worldwide in 2024, with an estimated 330,731 new cases and 203,850 deaths. Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) accounts for more than 90% of ovarian cancers and comprises five major histological subtypes with distinct biological behavior, molecular alterations, and therapeutic vulnerabilities. However, most EOC histotypes continue to be managed primarily with surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy, underscoring the need to better define histotype-informed molecular targets and precision therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes the histological features, frequent molecular alterations, dysregulated signaling pathways, and clinically relevant protein-expression patterns across major EOC histotypes, with emphasis on their potential therapeutic implications. Representative clinical and preclinical evidence supporting histotype-specific targeted therapies is also discussed, with attention to differences in therapeutic actionability and evidence maturity. Building on this histotype-specific evidence, an integrated histotype-molecular therapeutic stratification framework covering five major EOC histotypes is proposed. By integrating histologic context with molecular profiling, this framework may help refine precision-guided therapeutic approaches and complement conventional management. Nevertheless, the clinical applicability and long-term benefits of therapies guided by this stratification framework remain to be confirmed in prospective studies.
SN - 0167-7659
SN - 1573-7233
ER -