Where does Ovarian Cancer originate?

In the past it was thought that fallopian tube cancers were precursors to ovarian cancer. In October, in the Journal Nature Communications research supporting that hypothesis was presented in the article, High Grade serous ovarian carcinomas originate in the fallopian tubes.  

Researchers used whole exome sequencing (a technique for sequencing all of the protein-coding genes in a genome) and  copy number analyses ( process to analyze DNA chromosomes number variations) to study fallopian tube lesions, ovarian cancers and metastases from women with high grade serous ovarian cancer. The fallopian tube lesions were examined for p53 signatures, serous tubal intraepithelial carcinomas(STICS) and fallopian tube carincinomas. TP53, BRCA1, BRCA2 oor PTEN specific alterations found in the ovarian cancer tumors were present in the serous intraepithelial carcinomas (STICS). Analysis revealed that the p53signatures and the STICS are precursors of ovarian carcinoma.

Using a mathematical model researchers determined that it took an average of 6.5 years for the earliest development of a fallopian tube lesion to become ovarian cancer. They also found that metastasis followed rapidly after the ovarian cancer carcinoma was initiated on average 2 years. Though the number of women whose samples were tested in this study was small(5), the results suggest that ovarian cancer is originates in the fallopian tubes.


To read the complete study please visit https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5653668/

Additional articles on this research are available at:
NCI
https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2017/ovarian-cancer-fallopian-tube-origins
Science Daily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171023094404.htm
Futurity
http://www.futurity.org/ovarian-cancer-fallopian-tubes-1583362-2/

This research may lead to improved screening tests. 

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!