Hye Jin You

Targeting Ovarian Neoplasms: Subtypes and Therapeutic Options

The ovary, as the primary organ responsible for reproduction and new life, plays a central role in female development, maturation, and health. Neoplasms arising from the ovary and its associated tissues exhibit substantial heterogeneity in their histopathological and molecular profiles, many of which remain poorly understood. This review aims to summarize recent advances in the understanding of genetic alterations underlying ovarian neoplasms and to explore therapeutic strategies informed by molecular biomarkers and tumor microenvironmental factors. A comprehensive literature search was performed, focusing on genomic alterations, biomarker-guided therapies, and tumor microenvironmental modulation in ovarian cancers. Emphasis was placed on studies addressing lipid mediator pathways and their roles in immune regulation and therapeutic response. Based on diagnostic classifications, recurrent alterations in TP53, MYC, PIK3CA, and KRAS are consistently observed across epithelial and germ cell ovarian tumors, whereas non-epithelial subtypes such as sex cord–stromal tumors (SCSTs) and small-cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT), are predominantly associated with ARID1A and SMARCA4 mutations, respectively. These findings highlight distinct pathogenic mechanisms linked to specific genetic alterations and reveal potential therapeutic vulnerabilities. Moreover, lipid metabolism has been closely implicated in immune surveillance through STING signaling cascades within innate immune cells, suggesting that lipid mediators and their associated genes may represent promising therapeutic targets in ovarian cancers (OCs). Targeting lipid mediators could be particularly effective in relapsed OCs, as modulating innate immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) may enhance immune surveillance and improve antitumor responses. Integrating genetic and microenvironmental insights offers a promising direction for developing more effective and personalized therapeutic strategies in OC.