A new study has finally answered a long-standing question about one of the most dangerous types of ovarian cancer—where does it actually start? The answer could lead to earlier diagnosis and better treatments for a disease that is often found too late.
This aggressive cancer is called high-grade serous carcinoma. It is the most common and deadly type of ovarian cancer, responsible for many deaths because it’s hard to detect in its early stages. Often, by the time it’s found, it has already spread, and treatment becomes less effective. Most patients diagnosed with this cancer don’t survive longer than five years.
For a long time, scientists thought this cancer came from the ovaries. But this new research, led by Professor Alexander Nikitin from Cornell University, shows it actually begins in the fallopian tubes, the narrow tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus.
The researchers found that a specific kind of cell in the fallopian tube is the likely starting point for this cancer. These cells are called pre-ciliated tubal epithelial cells.
They’re a temporary type of cell—halfway between a basic stem cell and a mature cell with tiny hair-like structures (called cilia) that help move eggs along the tube. These in-between cells turn out to be more vulnerable to changes that can lead to cancer.
The study, published in Nature Communications, was done using mice. In mice, the fallopian tube is called the uterine tube, but it works in a very similar way. The researchers looked at all the different cells in the tube to figure out which ones might become cancerous when certain important genes were damaged.
They focused on two genes, TP53 and RB1, that usually help protect the body from cancer. In almost all cases of high-grade serous carcinoma in humans, TP53 is mutated, and parts of the RB1 gene pathway are also affected. The team wanted to see what happens when these genes are switched off in different cell types.
Surprisingly, when these genes were turned off in fallopian tube stem cells, no tumors formed. In fact, those stem cells just died. But when the same genes were turned off in the pre-ciliated transitional cells, cancer quickly developed. That means these cells are the real troublemakers—and the actual starting point of high-grade serous carcinoma.
To better understand these cells, the researchers used a technique called single-cell sequencing, which lets them see exactly what genes each cell is using. They noticed that these pre-ciliated cells had certain markers—like a gene called Pax8, which is often found in this type of cancer, and Krt5, another gene that helped them identify the dangerous cells.
This discovery is very important because it gives scientists a clear target. Since the process of cilia formation (called ciliogenesis) is already well understood, researchers now have a familiar pathway to explore for new tools to diagnose and treat this cancer early—possibly before it spreads.
By knowing the exact type of cell where the cancer begins and the genes involved, doctors in the future might be able to find high-grade serous carcinoma earlier or even prevent it from starting in high-risk patients.
This study brings new hope in the fight against ovarian cancer. While more research is needed before this can be turned into a routine test or treatment, it’s a big step forward in understanding a disease that has taken too many lives for far too long.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies that plant-based diets may reduce risk of colorectal cancer in men, and Low-fat diet may help stop cancer growth.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies about How to harness the power of anti-cancer foods and supplements and results showing that Empower your plate: cancer-fighting foods and recipes.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
