Mucinous ovarian tumors (MOT) morphologically and epidemiologically resemble mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN) of the pancreas, sharing a similar stroma and both occuring disproportionately among young female smokers. Additionally, MOT and MCN share similar clinical characteristics and immuno-histochemical phenotypes. In case of metastatic relapse, these tumors are chemo-resistant and survival does not exceed one year. We recently showed that gene-expression profiles of MOT and MCN are closer to primordial germ cells (PGCs) than either eutopic epithelial tumors or normal epithelia (pancreas and ovary): We suspect that MCN would arise from embryological remnants of PGCs that would stop during their migration to gonadal ridges in early embryogenesis. In the current project we are aiming to investigate whether MOT and MCN express markers of PGCs
PRINCIPAL APPLICANT :
Sana Intidhar Labidi Galy, MD, PhD. Médecin adjoint, Département d’oncologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève.