Prognostic factors or indicators of gynecologic cancers

The large majority of gynecologic malignancies are comprised of cervical cancer, endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer. Prognostic factors for each disease are based upon various clinical pathological features. These include tumor size and lymph node metastasis for cervical cancer; histological grade, myometrial invasion, and lymph node metastasis for endometrial cancer; histopathological classification, histological grade, and capsule rupture in early ovarian cancer and completeness of debulking surgery in advanced ovarian cancer. In addition to these factors, recent studies have investigated the role of various molecules including growth factors, virus-related molecules, transcription factors, receptors-ligands, cell cycle-related molecules, apoptosis-related molecules as well as various genetic abnormalities as prognostic factors or indicators for gynecologic malignancies. This molecular background of gynecologic cancers will shape future directions in the increasingly individualized basis of treatment.