Ovarian cancer in adolescents and young adults

Adolescent and Young Adult Germ Cell Tumors: Epidemiology, Genomics, Treatment, and Survivorship

Innovations in the care of adolescent and young adult (AYA) germ cell tumors (GCTs) are needed for one of the most common AYA cancers for which treatment has not significantly changed for several decades. Testicular GCTs (TGCTs) are the most common cancers in 15- to 39-year-old men, and ovarian GCTs (OvGCTs) are the leading gynecologic malignancies in women younger than 25 years. Excellent outcomes, even in widely metastatic disease using cisplatin-based chemotherapy, can be achieved since Einhorn and Donohue's landmark 1977 study in TGCT. However, as the severity of accompanying late effects (ototoxicity, neurotoxicity, cardiovascular disease, second malignant neoplasms, nephrotoxicity, and others) has emerged, efforts to deintensity treatment and find alternatives to cisplatin have taken on new urgency. Current innovations include the collaborative design of clinical trials that accrue GCTs across all ages and both sexes, including adolescents (previously on pediatric trials), and OvGCT (previously on gynecologic-only trials). Joint trials accrue larger sample sizes at a faster rate and therefore evaluate new approaches more rapidly. These joint trials also allow for biospecimen collection to further probe GCT etiology and underlying mechanisms of tumor growth, thus providing new therapeutic options. This AYA approach has been fostered by The Malignant Germ Cell International Consortium, which includes over 115 GCT disease experts from pediatric, gynecologic, and genitourinary oncologies in 16 countries. Trials in development incorporate, to our knowledge, for the first time, molecular risk stratification and precision oncology approaches on the basis of specific GCT biology. This collaborative AYA approach pioneering successfully in GCT could serve as a model for impactful research for other AYA cancer types.

Early-Onset Ovarian Cancer <30 Years: What Do We Know about Its Genetic Predisposition?

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women. Most patients are diagnosed with advanced epithelial OC in their late 60s, and early-onset adult OC diagnosed ≤30 years is rare, accounting for less than 5% of all OC cases. The most significant risk factor for OC development are germline pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants (GPVs) in OC predisposition genes (including BRCA1, BRCA2, BRIP1, RAD51C, RAD51D, Lynch syndrome genes, or BRIP1), which contribute to the development of over 20% of all OC cases. GPVs in BRCA1/BRCA2 are the most prevalent. The presence of a GPV directs tailored cancer risk-reducing strategies for OC patients and their relatives. Identification of OC patients with GPVs can also have therapeutic consequences. Despite the general assumption that early cancer onset indicates higher involvement of hereditary cancer predisposition, the presence of GPVs in early-onset OC is rare (<10% of patients), and their heritability is uncertain. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the genetic predisposition to early-onset OC, with a special focus on epithelial OC, and suggests other alternative genetic factors (digenic, oligogenic, polygenic heritability, genetic mosaicism, imprinting, etc.) that may influence the development of early-onset OC in adult women lacking GPVs in known OC predisposition genes.

Pediatric, adolescent, and young adult breast and reproductive tumors

Tumors of the breast and reproductive organs that occur in children, adolescents, and young adults (AYA) have different biological features and can present special challenges. Although prognosis for these tumors is generally favorable, the long-term effects of treatment can be debilitating. Treatments are often multimodal and may include surgery as well as chemotherapy and/or radiation, which can cause considerable distress and anxiety related to loss of femininity or masculinity, concern over future fertility, or sexual dysfunction. Thus, tumors of the reproductive organs in pediatric/AYA patients require special consideration of the treatment effects beyond the intended oncologic outcome. Multidisciplinary teams should be involved in their care and address issues of fertility, sexual dysfunction, and psychosexual concerns before treatment begins. This review addresses histology, risk factors, prognosis, staging and treatment of gynecologic, breast and testicular cancers in pediatric and AYA patients.

Therapeutic Management and Prognostic Factors for Ovarian Malignant Tumours in Adolescents: A Comprehensive Review of Current Guidelines

Background: Ovarian malignant tumours are rarely diagnosed in adolescents but may have a significant impact on their survival, future fertility and quality of life. The management of such cases is rather complex and requires expertise and careful planning according to scarce existing evidence and recommendations. Objective: The aim of this study was to review and compare recommendations from published guidelines regarding the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of malignant ovarian tumours in adolescents. Evidence acquisition: A comparative descriptive/narrative review of guidelines issued by L’Observatoire des Tumeurs Malignes Rares Gynécologiques, the British Society for Paediatric & Adolescent Gynaecology, the European Society for Medical Oncology, the European Society of Gynecological Oncology-European Society for Paediatric Oncology and the European Cooperative Study Group for Pediatric Rare Tumors was conducted. Results: All guidelines recommend a thorough diagnostic work-up, consisting of both imaging tests and serum tumour marker measurement, as well as the use of immunohistochemical methods to confirm the diagnosis and complete surgical staging prior to constructing the treatment plan. There is a lack of recommendations regarding the assessment of prognostic factors, with only one guideline providing detailed information. Treatment strategies, as suggested by the majority of guidelines and with only a few discrepancies between them, should include both surgery and adjuvant therapies, mainly chemotherapy, with great emphasis on fertility preservation when it is considered oncologically safe and on the significance of regular and long-term follow-up. Conclusions: There is a significant degree of agreement among recommendations of existing guidelines. The reported differences, although limited, highlight the need for the adoption of an international consensus in order to further improve the management of adolescent ovarian cancer.

Epidemiological trends of female breast and gynecologic cancers in adolescents and young adults in China from 1990 to 2019: Results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background

Research on the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of female breast and gynecologic cancers (FeBGCs) and the relevant risk factors for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are valuable for policy-making in China. We aimed to estimate the incidence, deaths, and DALYs and predict epidemiological trends of FeBGCs among AYAs in China between 1990 and 2019.

Methods

Data from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study between 1990 and 2019 in 195 countries and territories were retrieved. Data about the number of FeBGC incident cases, deaths, DALYs, age-standardized rates (ASRs), and estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were extracted. A comparative risk assessment framework was performed to estimate the risk factors attributable to breast cancer deaths and DALYs, and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models were fitted for time-series analysis to predict female cancer morbidity and mortality among Chinese AYAs until 2030.

Results

In 2019, there are 61,038 incidence cases, 8,944 deaths, and 529,380 DALYs of FeBGCs among the AYAs in China, respectively. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) values were positive scores (>0) in ASIRs and negative scores (<0) in ASMR and ASDR. Furthermore, in 2030, the incidence rate of FeBGCs would grow to 30.49 per 100,000 in China, while the mortality rate would maintain a steady state. Of the deaths and DALYs, diet high in red meat was the greatest contributor to breast cancer, while a high body mass index (BMI) was the greatest contributor to cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancers.

Conclusion

The increasing Chinese FeBGC burden is mainly observed in AYAs and non-red meat diet, and the control of body weight could reduce FeBGC burden in China.

Survival of Adolescents and Young Adults with Prevalent Poor-Prognosis Metastatic Cancers: A Population-Based Study of Contemporary Patterns and Their Implications

BACKGROUND

Although survival has improved dramatically for most adolescents and young adults (AYA; 15-39 years old) with cancer, it remains poor for those presenting with metastatic disease. To better characterize this subset, we conducted a landscape survival comparison with older adults (40-79 years).

METHODS

Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program data from 2000 to 2016, we examined incident cases of poor-prognosis metastatic cancers (5-year survival < 50%) among AYAs (n = 11,518) and older adults (n = 345,681) and compared cause-specific survival by sociodemographic characteristics (race/ethnicity, sex, and socioeconomic status). Adjusted HRs (aHR) for death from metastatic disease [95% confidence intervals (95% CI)] were compared between AYAs and older adults (Pint).

RESULTS

AYAs had significantly better survival than older adults for every cancer site except kidney, where it was equivalent (range of aHRs = 0.91; 95% CI, 0.82-1.02 for kidney cancer to aHR = 0.33; 95% CI, 0.26-0.42 for rhabdomyosarcoma). Compared with their older adult counterparts, greater survival disparities existed for AYAs who were non-Hispanic Black with uterine cancer (aHR = 2.20; 95% CI, 1.25-3.86 versus aHR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.28-1.54; Pint = 0.049) and kidney cancer (aHR = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.15-1.98 versus aHR = 1.10; 95% CI, 1.03-1.17; Pint = 0.04); non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islanders with ovarian cancer (aHR = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.12-1.93 versus aHR = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.84-0.95; Pint<0.001); and males with colorectal cancer (aHR = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.10-1.32 versus aHR = 1.08; 95% CI, 1.06-1.10; Pint = 0.045).

CONCLUSIONS

AYAs diagnosed with these metastatic cancers have better survival than older adults, but outcomes remain dismal.

IMPACT

Overcoming the impact of metastasis in these cancers is necessary for continuing progress in AYA oncology. Sociodemographic disparities affecting AYAs within kidney, uterine, ovarian, and colorectal cancer could indicate plausible effects of biology, environment, and/or access and should be explored.

Somatic Mutational Profile of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma and Triple-Negative Breast Carcinoma in Young and Elderly Patients: Similarities and Divergences

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSOC) are aggressive malignancies that share similarities; however, different ages of onset may reflect distinct tumor behaviors. Thus, our aim was to compare somatic mutations in potential driver genes in 109 TNBC and 81 HGSOC from young (Y ≤ 40 years) and elderly (E ≥ 75 years) patients. Methods: Open access mutational data (WGS or WES) were collected for TNBC and HGSOC patients. Potential driver genes were those that were present in the Cancer Gene Census—CGC, the Candidate Cancer Gene Database—CCGD, or OncoKB and those that were considered pathogenic in variant effect prediction tools. Results: Mutational signature 3 (homologous repair defects) was the only gene that was represented in all four subgroups. The median number of mutated CGCs per sample was similar in HGSOC (Y:3 vs. E:4), but it was higher in elderly TNBC than it was in young TNBC (Y:3 vs. E:6). At least 90% of the samples from TNBC and HGSOC from Y and E patients presented at least one known affected TSG. Besides TP53, which was mutated in 67–83% of the samples, the affected TSG in TP53 wild-type samples were NF1 (yHGSOC and yTNBC), PHF6 (eHGSOC and yTNBC), PTEN, PIK3R1 and ZHFX3 (yTNBC), KMT2C, ARID1B, TBX3, and ATM (eTNBC). A few samples only presented one affected oncogene (but no TSG): KRAS and TSHR in eHGSOC and RAC1 and PREX2 (a regulator of RAC1) in yTNBC. At least ⅔ of the tumors presented mutated oncogenes associated with tumor suppressor genes; the Ras and/or PIK3CA signaling pathways were altered in 15% HGSOC and 20–35% TNBC (Y vs. E); DNA repair genes were mutated in 19–33% of the HGSOC tumors but were more frequently mutated in E-TNBC (56%). However, in HGSOC, 9.5% and 3.3% of the young and elderly patients, respectively, did not present any tumors with an affected CGC nor did 4.65% and none of the young and elderly TNBC patients. Conclusion: Most HGSOC and TNBC from young and elderly patients present an affected TSG, mainly TP53, as well as mutational signature 3; however, a few tumors only present an affected oncogene or no affected cancer-causing genes.

Ovarian carcinoma in children with constitutional mutation of SMARCA4: single-family report and literature review

Ovarian carcinoma is an extremely rare malignancy in children, often developing on the underlying inherited background. Female carriers of pathogenic germline mutations of SMARCA4 are at risk of an aggressive type of undifferentiated ovarian cancer called small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT). Regardless of age of the patient, stage of the disease, and oncological treatment, the prognosis for SCCOHT is poor. Therefore, early intervention with risk-reducing surgeries is recommended for these patients. In this study, we report genetic testing of a family with two children carrying pathogenic germline mutations of SMARCA4 and summarize the course of SCCOHT in all pediatric patients reported in the literature with constitutional defects identified within the SMARCA4 locus.

Approaches to the Diagnosis and Management of Ovarian Cancer in Pregnancy

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecological cancers diagnosed in pregnancy. Its management is often very problematic due to the proximity of the adnexa to the developing fetus and chemotherapy-related toxicity risk. Tumor markers and imagining studies play important roles in diagnosis, help differentiate benign masses from malignancy and allow to plan the treatment. Due to the physiological changes that occur in pregnancy, levels of tumor markers can be altered and reduce their diagnostic value. We review current recommendations for the management and treatment of ovarian cancer in pregnant patients considering gestational age at diagnosis, tumor histology, stage of the disease, risk of obstetrical complications, and patient’s preferences.

Histological Characteristics and Early-Stage Diagnosis Are Associated With Better Survival in Young Patients With Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis Based on Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Database

PURPOSE

To analyze the potential prognostic factors of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in women aged under 35 compared to those aged 60-79.

METHODS

Cases were retrospectively obtained from SEER database. Clinical characteristics, such as race, histological type, AJCC stage, laterality of tumors, CA125 results, and surgical strategies, were analyzed in < 35 years group and 60-79 years group. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to evaluate overall survival (OS) and cause-specific survival (CSS). Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify the predictors for CSS.

RESULTS

Sixteen thousand eight hundred forty-seven EOC patients diagnosed in 2004-2015 were identified from SEER database, with 1,015 aged under 35 and 15,833 aged 60-79. In < 35 years group, mucinous (32.2%) was the most common histological type, followed by high-grade serous (26.6%) and endometrioid (18.3%), while in 60-79 years group, high-grade serous (68.3%) represented the leading histological type. Most young women were diagnosed at stage I (57.7%), while most old women were diagnosed at stage (48.1%). Both 5-year OS and 5-year CSS were higher in < 35 years group (5-year OS: 76.00% vs 40.18%, p < 0.001; 5-year CSS: 83.56% vs 55.18%, p < 0.001). The multivariate analysis identified histological type and stage as prognostic factors for CSS in both groups. Endometrioid represented a positive predictor for CSS, while carcinosarcoma and malignant Brenner were related to a worse CSS. (< 35 years group: carcinosarcoma vs endometrioid: HR 5.630, p=0.024; malignant Brenner vs endometrioid: HR 4.005, p < 0.001; 60-79 years group: carcinosarcoma vs endometrioid: HR 3.606, p < 0.001; malignant Brenner vs endometrioid: HR 2.291, p < 0.001). Tumors laterality, CA125 levels, surgery and lymphadenectomy failed to be associated with the CSS in < 35 years group, while found to be independent risk factors in 60-79 years group.

CONCLUSION

EOC women aged under 35 had a better survival outcome over EOC women aged 60-79, owing to high proportion of endometrioid and mucinous types in histology, as well as early-stage diagnosis. Identification of histological types and gene profiles should be underscored in young EOC patients.

A serous borderline ovarian tumour in a transgender male adolescent

Here we present a transgender male adolescent with an androgen receptor-positive serous borderline ovarian tumour in the setting of testosterone treatment for medical gender transition. To our knowledge, this is the second report of borderline tumour in a transgender individual and the first in an adolescent, an age group in which borderline tumours are extremely rare. We discuss the specific considerations of treating ovarian tumours in the transgender male population, the incompletely understood role of androgens in the genesis of ovarian epithelial neoplasia, and an emphasis on assessing cancer risk in transgender patients based on patient anatomy.

Germ Cell Tumors in Adolescents and Young Adults

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are rare in childhood, representing only 3.5% of childhood cancers, but a common malignancy in adolescents and young adults (AYAs), accounting for 13.9% of neoplasms in adolescents between age 15 and 19 years. The overall outcomes of patients treated for GCTs are excellent. However, as seen in other cancers, outcomes for AYA patients are significantly worse. Understanding the reasons for this observation has led to different approaches to diagnosis, staging, and treatment. The Malignant Germ Cell International Consortium was created to bring together pediatric, gynecologic, and testicular cancer specialists to promote research initiatives and provide evidence-based approaches in the management of GCTs across different age groups. Collaboration between multiple subspecialties is essential to further understand the disease continuum, the underlying biologic characteristics, and the development of appropriate therapeutic approaches. This review focuses on the unique characteristics of patients with extracranial GCTs in the AYA group.

Persistently elevated alpha-fetoprotein associated with chronic hepatitis B during chemotherapy for malignant ovarian germ cell tumors: a case series and a review of the literature

Background

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) plays a crucial role in the management of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCTs) and is an important reference index for chemotherapy termination. However, a high level of AFP can also be caused by several benign diseases, causing confusion and impacting treatment decisions.

Case presentation

We described four patients who were diagnosed with MOGCTs; the histologic subtype in two of them was mixed MOGCTs (yolk sac tumor with mature teratoma), while the rest was immature teratoma. The serum AFP level of each patient was abnormal before surgery, but it was still persistently elevated around 300 ng/ml even after additional cycles of chemotherapy. All patients were thoroughly evaluated, but we did not find any evidence of disease progression or residual tumors. Liver function tests were normal, whereas serum assays revealed positive of hepatitis B surface antigen, and two patients had a high level of HBV-DNA. They were chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus and never received relevant treatments. Then they were managed with tumor surveillance and the antiviral treatment. Thereafter, the AFP levels presented a slowly decreasing trend.

Conclusions

False elevation of AFP in MOGCTs is a rare condition and should be assessed with a comprehensive evaluation to avoid unnecessary treatments.