Katabuchi Hidetaka (ed.) Frontiers in Ovarian Cancer Science

Springer, 2017. — 313 p. — ISBN: 978-981-10-4159-4.The ovaries are not only reproductive organs that hold the ova, which are a source of life, but also endocrine organs that produce female sex steroid hormones. Diverse germ cell tumors and sex-cord tumors develop from respective precursor cells. Although epithelial tumors, which constitute the most common type of ovarian tumors, have long been thought to arise from the ovarian surface epithelium, a new theory has emerged indicating that they can arise within the tubal fimbriae in serous tubal intraepithelial cancer (STIC) as precursor cells. In 2014, the World Health Organization revised its histological classifications of gynecological tumors for the first time in 13 years based on these findings, issuing the WHO Classification of Tumours of Female Reproductive Organs. Rapid advances in molecular biology have resulted in a new classification of epithelial ovarian cancer into two types through the addition of precursors and known molecular genetic alterations to the conventional histological type. A new point of view for the diagnosis and prevention of epithelial ovarian cancer was introduced when two genes responsible for hereditary breast–ovarian cancer, which accounts for approximately 5–10% of cases of epithelial ovarian cancer, were identified. Clinically, over the past 30 years, a markedly increasing trend in cases of epithelial ovarian cancer has been seen in developed Western countries. Epithelial ovarian cancer is now the eighth most common disease among women worldwide and the seventh leading cause of death. For cases of epithelial ovarian cancer, half of which are progressive cancer cases, it is important to implement multimodal therapy with surgery and chemotherapy. As various international clinical trials on chemotherapy with platinum agents and taxane are under way, new and innovative treatments such as neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) are beginning to be clinically applied. In addition to the introduction of molecular-targeted therapy, the current feasibility of immunotherapy has made it possible to anticipate improvement in the long-term prognosis. However, as no marked improvement in prognosis for cases of progressive ovarian cancer is expected, the most important clinical issue is the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer, with the basis of treatment being the early introduction of palliative medicine. Moreover, the introduction of the concept of oncofertility is an important issue for young patients, while treatment strategies for elderly patients, whose number is increasing with the aging population, must not be neglected. On this topic, we scientifically studied ovarian cancer and summarized the basic principles and frontline clinical management in Chap. 17. I take pride in the fact that all authors are highly renowned in their field worldwide. I sincerely hope that this book becomes a must-have resource not only for basic scientists and gynecologic oncologists but also for many doctors, ranging from those in the younger generation who have just started engaging in research or clinical care to experienced gynecologists.