Ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous disease

Received 5 October 2004; received in revised form 15 December 2004; accepted 16 December 2004.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the molecular profiles of different histologic types of epithelial ovarian cancer before the disease has metastasized beyond the ovary. Stage 1 epithelial ovarian cancers were chosen for analysis of early genetic events associated with different cell types. Allelotyping of 47 cases was performed using 224 polymorphic markers. Analysis with Fisher's exact test found markers specific for grade 3 tumors and clear cell histology. Hierarchal clustering analysis using dChip software revealed that the pattern of allele loss in eight regions on four chromosomes led to grouping of grade 3 tumors, endometrioid (grades 1 and 2) tumors, and clear cell tumors. We conclude that ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous disease in which histologic phenotypes correlate with distinct genetic patterns.

a Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115

b Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

c Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

d Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

e China University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

Corresponding author. Tel.: (401) 453-7520; fax: (401) 453-7529.

PII: S0165-4608(04)00639-9

doi:10.1016/j.cancergencyto.2004.12.014

14 of 18