Brain Metastases from Ovarian Cancer: Current Evidence in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis

• Main Authors: Fulvio Borella, Luca Bertero, Antonio Morrone, Alessandro Gambella, Marialuisa Bovetti, Stefano Cosma, Andrea Carosso, Dionyssios Katsaros, Silvia Gemmiti, Mario Preti, Giorgio Valabrega, Giulia Scotto, Paola Cassoni, Chiara Benedetto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
• Series: Cancers
• Subjects: brain metastases; ovarian cancer; BRCA; treatment; management; pathology
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/8/2156

With this review, we provide the state of the art concerning brain metastases (BMs) from ovarian cancer (OC), a rare condition. Clinical, pathological, and molecular features, treatment options, and future perspectives are comprehensively discussed. Overall, a diagnosis of high-grade serous OC and an advanced disease stage are common features among patients who develop brain metastases. <i>BRCA1</i> and <i>BRCA2</i> gene mutations, as well as the expression of androgen receptors in the primary tumor, are emerging risk and prognostic factors which could allow one to identify categories of patients at greater risk of BMs, who could benefit from a tailored follow-up. Based on present data, a multidisciplinary approach combining surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy seem to be the best approach for patients with good performance status, although the median overall survival (<1 year) remains largely disappointing. Hopefully, novel therapeutic avenues are being explored, like PARP inhibitors and immunotherapy, based on our improved knowledge regarding tumor biology, but further investigation is warranted.