Targeting the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in low-grade serous carcinoma of the ovary.

Until recently, there has been little change in the management of epithelial ovarian cancer with the majority of women receiving identical systemic therapy, regardless of histological subtype. The heterogeneity of epithelial ovarian cancer is now well established, with distinct subtypes characterized by specific molecular alterations and patterns of clinical behavior. Low-grade serous carcinoma is a rare subtype associated with an indolent biological behavior and inherent resistance to chemotherapy. The mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway plays a prominent role in the pathogenesis of low-grade serous carcinoma, and provides an attractive target for novel therapeutic agents. Selumetinib, a MEK1/2 inhibitor, demonstrates promising efficacy in women with relapsed low-grade serous carcinoma, and further trials of MEK-inhibition are underway. Translational research will be essential to identify predictive biomarkers for this treatment approach.