A study published in Nature Genetics has identified nine new susceptibility loci, or disease-associated alleles, for different epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) histotypes and three susceptibility loci within BRCA1 and 2 mutation carriers with EOC. Researchers, including former OCRFA grantee and current OCRFA Scientific Advisory Committee Member Andrew Berchuck, looked at data from 25,509 EOC cases and 40,941 control cases. Within the nine new non-BRCA1 and 2 susceptibility loci, they found six for serous EOC histotypes, two for mucinous EOC, and one for endometrioid EOC.

This study, also partially funded by the OCAC, or Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium, adds to the already confirmed 27 gene variants linked to an increased risk of ovarian cancer, specifically anywhere from a 6% to 19% increase.

Dr. Justine Alford of Cancer Research UK says, “If the newly identified changes are confirmed, finding out how these can lead to ovarian cancer could support research into developing new drugs and lead to more personalized treatments for the disease.”

Read more about the study here.

Read an interview with lead researcher Paul Pharoah, MD, PhD here.