Scientists have made an exciting discovery that may change how we detect and treat a dangerous type of ovarian cancer.
The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, looked at high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). This is the most aggressive and deadly kind of ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. One big reason it is so deadly is that it is hard to find early. Most women don’t notice symptoms until the cancer has already spread. Also, there is no simple test to catch it in the early stages.
For a while, scientists have believed that this cancer might not begin in the ovaries themselves. Instead, they thought it could start in the fallopian tubes, which connect the ovaries to the uterus. But they didn’t know exactly where it started—until now.
In this new study led by Dr. Alexander Nikitin from Cornell University, researchers discovered that a certain type of cell in the fallopian tube may be where this cancer begins. The cell is called a pre-ciliated tubal epithelial cell.
These are cells that are partway through changing from stem cells into fully grown cells with tiny hairs called cilia. These hairs help move eggs and fluids through the fallopian tubes.
In the past, scientists thought that stem cells were the ones that might turn into cancer cells. But this study showed something different. When researchers turned off cancer-fighting genes in stem cells, those cells died. But when they turned off the same genes in pre-ciliated cells, the cells became cancerous.
The research team tested this using special mice. They focused on two genes that usually help stop cancer: TP53 and RB1 (called Trp53 and Rb1 in mice). These genes are often damaged in women with HGSC.
When the researchers turned off these genes in pre-ciliated cells, the mice developed cancer. But when they turned off the genes in other kinds of cells, cancer did not grow.
This is a big discovery because scientists now know which cells may lead to this dangerous cancer.
Even better, they understand the process that these cells go through—called ciliogenesis—as they grow their tiny hairs. Scientists already know a lot about this process, so they may now have a better chance of stopping the cancer before it starts.
The study also found that a gene called Krt5 is very active in these pre-ciliated cells. When the scientists turned off Trp53 and Rb1 in cells with high Krt5, the mice quickly developed cancer. This gives even more evidence that these cells are the starting point of HGSC.
This discovery could lead to big changes in how we fight ovarian cancer. Doctors might be able to look for pre-ciliated cells or high Krt5 levels as early warning signs. New treatments could be made to stop ciliogenesis before cancer forms. And personalized care could be developed for women at higher risk.
Even though this research was done in mice, the scientists say that human fallopian tubes are very similar. That means this new knowledge could help women too. More research is needed to confirm the findings in human tissues, but this discovery brings real hope.
Dr. Nikitin and his team believe this breakthrough could lead to earlier diagnosis, better treatments, and longer, healthier lives for women affected by ovarian cancer.
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