Consensus based recommendations for the diagnosis of serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma: an international Delphi study

Diagnosis and management of isolated serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma: A qualitative focus group study

OBJECTIVE

A Serous Tubal Intraepithelial Carcinoma (STIC) without concomitant invasive carcinoma is occasionally identified and associated with a high risk of subsequent peritoneal carcinomatosis. Management needs optimisation. This study explores professionals' opinions and clinical practices regarding the diagnosis, counselling, treatment and follow-up of isolated STIC to facilitate clinical decision making and optimise the direction of future research. A secondary aim is to assess international clinical guidelines.

DESIGN

Focus group study.

SETTING

Four online sessions.

POPULATION

International panel (n = 12 countries) of gynaecologists, gynaecologic oncologists, pathologists and medical oncologists (n = 49).

METHODS

A semi-structured interview guide was used. Two independent researchers analysed transcripts by open and axial coding. Results were organised in domains. Relevant (inter)national guidelines were screened for recommendations regarding isolated STIC.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Professionals' opinions and clinical practices regarding isolated STIC management.

RESULTS

Regarding pathology, most professionals identified the SEE-FIM protocol as standard of care for high-risk patients, whereas variation exists in the histopathological examination of fallopian tubes in the general population. Confirmation of STIC diagnosis by a specialised pathologist was recommended. Regarding work-up and follow-up after STIC diagnosis, there was variety and discordance. Data on outcomes is limited. As for treatment, chemotherapy and PARP inhibitors were not recommended by most. Eleven guidelines provided limited recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified recommendations and highlighted knowledge gaps in the diagnosis and management of isolated STIC. Moreover, recommendations in clinical guidelines are limited. There is an agreed need for international collaboration for the prospective registration of isolated STIC.

Risk-reducing salpingectomy with delayed oophorectomy to prevent ovarian cancer in women with an increased inherited risk: insights into an alternative strategy

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal type of gynaecological cancer, due to lack of effective screening possibilities and because the disease tends to metastasize before onset of symptoms. Women with an increased inherited risk for EOC are advised to undergo a risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO), which decreases their EOC risk by 96% when performed within guideline ages. However, it also induces premature menopause, which has harmful consequences. There is compelling evidence that the majority of EOCs originate in the fallopian tube. Therefore, a risk-reducing salpingectomy with delayed oophorectomy (RRS with DO) has gained interest as an alternative strategy. Previous studies have shown that this alternative strategy has a positive effect on menopause-related quality of life and sexual health when compared to the standard RRSO. It is hypothesized that the alternative strategy is non-inferior to the standard RRSO with respect to oncological safety (EOC incidence). Three prospective studies are currently including patients to compare the safety and/or quality of life of the two distinct strategies. In this article we discuss the background, opportunities, and challenges of the current and alternative strategy.

Morphologic and Molecular Heterogeneity of High-grade Serous Carcinoma Precursor Lesions

Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) is the fallopian tube precursor lesion for most cases of pelvic high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). To date, the morphologic, molecular, and clinical heterogeneity of STIC and a less atypical putative precursor lesion, termed serous tubal intraepithelial lesion, has not been well characterized. Better understanding of precursor heterogeneity could impact the clinical management of women with incidental STICs (without concurrent carcinoma) identified in cases of prophylactic or opportunistic salpingectomy. This study analyzed morphologic and molecular features of 171 STICs and 21 serous tubal intraepithelial lesions. We assessed their histologic features, Ki-67 and p53 staining patterns, and genome-wide DNA copy number alterations. We classified all precursor lesions into 2 morphologic subtypes, one with a flat surface (Flat) and the other characterized by budding, loosely adherent, or detached (BLAD) morphology. On the basis of pathology review by a panel of 8 gynecologic pathologists, we found 87 BLAD, 96 Flat, and 9 indeterminate lesions. As compared with Flat lesions, BLAD lesions were more frequently diagnostic of STIC ( P <0.0001) and were found concurrently with HGSC ( P <0.0001). BLAD morphology was also characterized by higher Ki-67 proliferation index ( P <0.0001), presence of epithelial stratification ( P <0.0001), and increased lymphocyte density ( P <0.0001). BLAD lesions also exhibited more frequent DNA copy number gain/amplification at the CCNE1 or CMYC loci canonical to HGSCs ( P <0.0001). Both BLAD morphology and STIC diagnoses are independent risk factors for an elevated Ki-67 proliferation index. No correlation was observed between BLAD and Flat lesions with respect to patient age, presence of germline BRCA1/2 mutation, or p53 staining pattern. These findings suggest that tubal precursor lesions are morphologically and molecularly heterogeneous, laying the foundation for further studies on the pathogenesis of HGSC initiation and identifying histologic features predictive of poor patient outcomes.