Interní Med. 2011; 13(12): 490-492

Ovarian cancer - on the road to improved diagnostics and treatment

RNDr.Luděk Záveský, Ph.D.

Ústav biologie a lékařské genetiky 1. LF UK a VFN, Praha

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) represents the most lethal gynecological malignancy and a very heterogeneous group of tumors

with controversial origin and insufficient diagnostics and treatment methods. Known genetic predispositions (e.g. mutations of

BRCA1/2 genes) are associated only with a small percentage of cases. Epidemiological factors causing elevated risk have not been

elucidated so far from the point of their causal activity. Three concepts are suggested for the EOC origin: epithelial mesenchymal

transition (and vice versa), secondary origin (e. g. from endometrium, fallopian tube) and activity of cancer stem cells. The discovery

and investigation of novel, small regulatory molecules of RNA in the last decade have changed the previous view of gene regulations

in the link DNA (gene) – mRNA – protein, in various cellular processes. The intensive research is focused also on ovarian cancer. The

most investigated class of molecules represent microRNA, which may be also connected with carcinogenesis. They may function, for

example, as tumor suppressors, or oncogenes. The survey is provided on the current diagnostic and treatment approaches regarding

EOC, on the background of research on regulatory microRNA and other factors, associated for example with chemoresistance

or prognosis.

Keywords: epithelial ovarian cancer, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, microRNA

Published: December 18, 2011  Show citation