Background: The classic prognostic parameters are insufficient for predicting the prognosis of the individual patient. Knowledge of molecular and biological factors which are responsible for the development and progression of ovarian cancer may improve the prediction of prognosis.
Materials and methods: Recent data both on factors associated with the development and control of ovarian cancer cells and on DNA ploidy have been reviewed.
Results: Observations suggest that steroid and peptide hormones have a role in disease etiology and progression, and that peptide growth factors and cytokines, oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, by their impact on mitosis and cell number may influence the rate of mutations, which could confer malignant transformation. DNA ploidy is an objective independent prognostic factor. DNA aneuploidy indicates high risk, diploidy low risk. Only tumours shown to be DNA diploid by flow-cytometry and image cytometry are considered diploid. S-phase fraction is currently not reliable.
Conclusion: Understanding the mechanisms involved in ovarian cancer development and growth will allow opportunities for the rational design of effective anti-tumour treatment modalities. More objective and reproducible prognostic variables will improve the predictiveness of prognosis.