• Low-grade serous carcinoma is the 4th most common type of ovarian cancer
• It disproportionately affects younger people
• It is hard to treat – the average survival is about 9 years
• Researchers are working hard to find better treatments and substantially improve the survival of people with low-grade serous carcinoma but they need your help to fund their life-saving research
  

Low grade serous cancer is a type of carcinoma (epithelial cell cancer). It is usually hormone receptor positive (estrogen +/- progesterone). Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common type of ovarian cancer. Approximately 10% of epithelial serous ovarian cancers are low-grade.

The ovaries are a pair of female reproductive organs located on either side of the uterus (womb). Epithelial cells line the surface of the ovary. Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond. They connect to the uterus via a long thin tube called the Fallopian tube. The ovary produces eggs which travel through the Fallopian tube to the uterus. They also produce oestrogen and progesterone hormones.

Researchers don’t know for sure.

One hypothesis is that it develops in a stepwise progression.

1. Fallopian epithelial cells ->
2. Inclusion cyst on ovary ->
3. Ovarian Serous cystadenoma ->
4. Borderline tumour ->
5. Low-grade serous ovarian cancer

But in all likelihood this is one of many ways the cancer can develop.

Low-grade serous peritoneal cancer is considered a variant of low-grade serous ovarian cancer. The peritoneum is the internal layer of the abdomen. In some women low-grade serous cancer starts in the peritoneum instead of the ovary. The medical treatment for both conditions is the same.

Since 2004, serous ovarian cancer has been divided into low-grade and high-grade. Traditionally ovarian cancer was described as grade 1,2 or 3. The grade of cancer describes how much the cancer cells look like normal cells. Low-grade cells grow slower than high-grade cells.

Pathologists decide whether a cancer is low or high-grade by looking at nuclear atypia, and mitotic count. Nuclear atypia refers to the appearance of the cell nuclei. Low-grade cells have mostly uniform round or oval nuclei with evenly distributed chromatin. High-grade cells have variable nuclear size and shape with irregular chromatin. A secondary consideration is mitotic count. The cut off is 13 mitotic figures/10 High Power Fields although 2-3 is more common for low-grade.

Unlike high-grade serous ovarian cancer BRCA (found in ~20% of HGSOC) and TP53 (~95% of HGSOC)  mutations are rare. In contrast, KRAS/NRAS/BRAF mutations are more common. But approximately 40% of low-grade serous ovarian cancer tumours have no identifiable mutation.

Scientists think some low and high-grade serous carcinoma originate in the fallopian tube. Conversion of low-grade serous cancer to high-grade is rare.

Compared to high-grade, low-grade serous ovarian cancer is relatively resistant to chemotherapy.

Borderline ovarian tumours are also called low malignant potential tumours. They are a pre-cursor to low-grade serous ovarian cancer. 60% of low-grade cancers have co-existent borderline tumours. 10% of women with advanced borderline tumours will develop low-grade in their lifetime.

Low-grade serous ovarian cancer are typically diagnosed once the cancer has spread. The majority of borderline tumours are diagnosed at stage 1 (when it is contained in the ovary).

Low-grade serous carcinoma is invasive. It grows destructively into cellular layers. Borderline is non invasive. This means it grows on the surface instead of invading deeper layers. The World Health Organisation classifies serous borderline tumour with coexisting invasive peritoneal implants as low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma.

Serous borderline tumours are treated with surgery alone. Low-grade serous ovarian cancer is usually treated more aggressively because it has a worse prognosis.

The symptoms are the same as other ovarian cancers .

They may include:
Bloating
Eating less and feeling fuller
Abdominal/back/pelvic pain
Needing to urinate urgently
Bowel motion changes

Learn more about ovarian cancer symptoms.

Because the symptoms are often gradual, and women tend to be younger – it is often misdiagnosed. Most women will be diagnosed at stage 2-4 when the cancer has spread beyond the ovaries.

There is no screening test for ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer can be detected with a transvaginal (internal) ultrasound and Ca-125 blood test. A CT scan or MRI may sometimes be used. Read more about these tests in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Ovarian Cancer Patient Guidelines 2017.

Initial treatment consists of surgery to remove all visible signs of the cancer. Usually the reproductive organs will be removed at the same time. However, fertility-sparing surgery may be possible in selected patients. If the cancer is contained in the ovary (stage 1) this may be the only treatment. For stage 2-4 chemotherapy, bevacizumab (Avastin) and hormone inhibitors are options.

Approximately 85% of women with low-grade will have their cancer return. Potential treatments for recurrence include chemotherapy; bevacizumab; hormone, MEK and BRAF inhibitors.

If you would like to know more – learn how to interpret research and access the latest studies.

For most women current medical treatment is not curative. But their clinical course is long enough to find better treatments in time for them. If we act now.

Low-grade serous ovarian cancer research is a relatively new field. But there have been massive advances in cancer research generally in the past decade. Treatments and therapies that work in other cancers could work in low-grade serous.

An example of this is a class of drugs called MEK inhibitors which were developed for melanoma. A few women with otherwise untreatable low-grade have had their cancer kept at bay for over five years with these medications. But researchers need more funding to test potential therapies.

For most women with this disease, research is not happening fast enough. But with your help, we can change this. Your donations can help cure our ovarian cancer in time for this generation and the next.

This information has been reviewed by a gynaecological oncologist specialising in low-grade.
Updated 17 August 2019.