Intraperitoneal invasiveness of ovarian cancer from the cellular and molecular perspective

Abstract

Peritoneal cavity is the primary site of ovarian cancer metastasis. It is believed that the intraperitoneal invasiveness of the malignancy is determined by interactions between cancer cells and the normal peritoneal mesothelium. The nature of these interactions is, however, unclear, which is the reason of divergent opinions about the role of mesothelial cells in the progression of the disease. According to some authors, the mesothelium acts as a barrier that prevents the expansion of the tumor cells. According to others, however, these cells actively promote various elements of cancer cell invasiveness. The aim of this study was to present the Reader both the concepts on the role of mesothelial cells in the intraperitoneal development of ovarian cancer metastasis, with particular emphasis on mechanisms of reciprocal interaction between the normal and the cancer cells.