Spatial and temporal intra-tumoral heterogeneity in advanced HGSOC: Implications for surgical and clinical outcomes

Cell Rep Med. 2023 Jun 20;4(6):101055. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101055. Epub 2023 May 22.

Abstract

Limited evidence exists on the impact of spatial and temporal heterogeneity of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) on tumor evolution, clinical outcomes, and surgical operability. We perform systematic multi-site tumor mapping at presentation and matched relapse from 49 high-tumor-burden patients, operated up front. From SNP array-derived copy-number data, we categorize dendrograms representing tumor clonal evolution as sympodial or dichotomous, noting most chemo-resistant patients favor simpler sympodial evolution. Three distinct tumor evolutionary patterns from primary to relapse are identified, demonstrating recurrent disease may emerge from pre-existing or newly detected clones. Crucially, we identify spatial heterogeneity for clinically actionable homologous recombination deficiency scores and for poor prognosis biomarkers CCNE1 and MYC. Copy-number signature, phenotypic, proteomic, and proliferative-index heterogeneity further highlight HGSOC complexity. This study explores HGSOC evolution and dissemination across space and time, its impact on optimal surgical cytoreductive effort and clinical outcomes, and its consequences for clinical decision-making.

Keywords: Cyclin E1; HRD; cytoreductive surgery; high-grade serous ovarian cancer; homologous recombination deficiency score; spatial and temporal heterogeneity; tumor evolution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Proteomics