Update: As of May 2026, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) has been renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). This terminology will be acknowledged for submissions to this Collection.

Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) is one of the most prevalent reproductive endocrine disorders affecting women worldwide. However, widely used diagnostic criteria and characterization standards for the PMOS ovary were largely developed based on European-ancestry cohorts. Growing global evidence demonstrates substantial variation in ovarian morphology, hyperandrogenism, metabolic risk, and clinical presentation across different ethnic groups and populations. These disparities bear significant implications for PMOS diagnosis and management and contribute to inequities in metabolic risk stratification that are not explicitly addressed in current diagnostic frameworks.

This Collection aims to integrate perspectives spanning basic, translational, and clinical sciences, including ovarian biology, clinical imaging, molecular endocrinology, epidemiology, and global health. Through this multidisciplinary approach, the Collection seeks to critically examine PMOS through an ethnicity- and equity-focused lens, with the goal of improving diagnostic accuracy and health outcomes across populations.

Objectives of this Collection

This Collection aims to:

• Reassess PMOS diagnostic and assessment approaches through ethnicity-informed studies;
• Characterize metabolic–reproductive phenotype variation in women diagnosed with PMOS across diverse ethnic and population backgrounds;
• Identify genetic, epigenetic, and molecular contributors to ethnic differences in PMOS ovarian morphology and functions;
• Examine structural, cultural, and environmental determinants influencing PMOS diagnosis and metabolic risk stratification across populations; and
• Advance precision-based, equity-informed diagnostic frameworks to optimize reproductive and metabolic health outcomes in women with PMOS.

Topics and Research Areas of Interest

This Collection welcomes submissions including, but not limited to:

• Clinical, population-based, and epidemiological studies examining ethnic and cultural variation in PMOS phenotypes, including ovarian morphology, folliculogenesis, hormone profiles, infertility, and metabolic risk.
• Basic and translational research investigating genetic, epigenetic, and molecular endocrine mechanisms underlying ethnic differences in ovarian function and PMOS-related phenotypes.
• Studies on follicle development, ovulation, and ovarian imaging evaluating diagnostic methodologies, quantitative imaging approaches, and population-specific criteria relevant to the characterization of the PMOS ovary.
• Research addressing structural, cultural, and global health determinants influencing PMOS diagnosis, ovarian disease risk stratification, and clinical evaluation across diverse populations.
• Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and advanced analytical studies, including artificial intelligence–enabled approaches, aimed at refining precision-based and equity-informed diagnostic frameworks for PMOS and related ovarian disorders.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 5: Gender Equality, and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

All submissions in this Collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process, and all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) are handled by the Editor-in-Chief. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or the Editor-in-Chief.

Ovarian cancer remains a leading cause of gynecological cancer mortality worldwide, driven by late diagnosis, tumor heterogeneity, and frequent therapeutic resistance. While genomic alterations have been extensively studied, recent advances highlight the central role of epigenetic regulation and multi-layered molecular interactions in shaping ovarian cancer initiation, progression, immune evasion, and treatment response.

Epigenetic mechanisms—including DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, and non-coding RNAs—interact dynamically with genetic alterations, the tumor microenvironment, and systemic factors to influence disease trajectory. Emerging technologies such as single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, liquid biopsy approaches, and integrative multi-omics analyses are transforming our understanding of ovarian cancer biology and opening new avenues for biomarker discovery and precision therapeutics.

This Collection aims to advance understanding of epigenetic mechanisms in ovarian cancer, focusing on their roles in disease initiation, progression, and metastasis. It also seeks to identify biomarkers for early detection, prognosis, and therapy selection, including through liquid biopsy approaches. It will explore how such alterations drive tumor heterogeneity, evolution, and recurrence, and examine their interactions with the tumor microenvironment and immune system. The Collection also seeks to support the development of epigenome-targeted approaches and combination strategies, while promoting the use of multi-omics, single-cell and spatial technologies, and AI-driven approaches to improve biological insight and clinical decision-making.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Core epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin dynamics, and epigenetic reprogramming
• Non-coding RNAs and gene regulation, such as microRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, and regulatory networks
• Tumor heterogeneity and evolution, including single-cell and spatial epigenomics, clonal dynamics, and cancer stem cell states
• Tumor microenvironment and immuno-epigenetics, including tumor–immune interactions and immune evasion
• Biomarkers and early detection, including epigenetic signatures and liquid biopsy approaches (e.g., ctDNA, cfDNA methylation)
• Therapeutics and resistance, including epigenetic drug targets, combination therapies, and mechanisms of relapse
• Technological advances, such as multi-omics integration, AI/ML applications, and advanced experimental models
• Clinical and translational research, including clinical trials, precision oncology, and hormone–epigenetic interactions in ovarian cancer

This Collection supports and amplifies research aligned with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, by advancing early detection strategies, improving therapeutic approaches, and fostering innovation in ovarian cancer care through epigenetics and precision medicine.

All submissions in this Collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process, and all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) are handled by the Editor-in-Chief. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or the Editor-in-Chief.