Diagnostic accuracy of mutational analysis along the Müllerian tract to detect ovarian cancer

ObjectiveOvarian cancer is known for its poor prognosis, which is mainly due to the lack of early symptoms and adequate screening options. In this study we evaluated whether mutational analysis in cervicovaginal and endometrial samples could assist in the detection of ovarian cancer.MethodsIn this prospective multicenter study, we included patients surgically treated for either (suspicion of) ovarian cancer or for a benign gynecological condition (control group). A cervicovaginal self-sample, a Papanicolaou (Pap) smear, a pipelle endometrial biopsy, and the surgical specimen were analyzed for (potentially) pathogenic variants in eight genes (ARID1A,CTNNB1,KRAS,MTOR,PIK3CA,POLE,PTEN, andTP53) using single-molecule molecular inversion probes. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated to assess diagnostic accuracy.ResultsBased on surgical histology, our dataset comprised 29 patients with ovarian cancer and 32 controls. In 83% of the patients with ovarian cancer, somatic (potentially) pathogenic variants could be detected in the final surgical specimen, of which 71% included at least aTP53variant. In 52% of the ovarian cancer patients, such variants could be detected in either the self-sample, Pap smear, or pipelle. The Pap smear yielded the highest diagnostic accuracy with 26% sensitivity (95% CI 10% to 48%). Overall diagnostic accuracy was low and was not improved when includingTP53variants only.ConclusionsMutational analysis in cervicovaginal and endometrial samples has limited accuracy in the detection of ovarian cancer. Future research with cytologic samples analyzed on methylation status or the vaginal microbiome may be relevant.