OCRA Funded Research Identifies Genes Associated with Increased Risk of Ovarian Cancer

(May 21, 2019) Earlier this month, Nature Genetics published a study, in part funded by OCRA, that found 34 genes were connected to women developing the earliest stages of ovarian cancer. Using data compiled by the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium, researchers looked at the genetic profiles of around 25,000 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 45,000 women without the disease. Looking at the genetic variants in a new way and being able to use a large amount of data with which to compare it to, allowed them to identify those new genes.

Kate Lawrenson, PhD, an assistant professor at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and OCRA grantee, commented on the importance of the study, saying that it, “shows how critical it is to study the specific cells from which ovarian cancers arise. Collecting normal ovaries and fallopian tubes enabled us to map the molecular fingerprints of these specific cell types in a large cohort of women.”

This study could potentially have long lasting impact in that it not only identifies women at high risk of developing ovarian cancer, it could also inform future treatments for these genetic components. You can read more information about the study from Medical Xpress here.