A discovery that sheds light on how two genes interact to trigger ovarian cancer promises to lead to a new drug in the battle against the deadly disease, a new research study suggests.
More than 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer annually and less than half (44.6 percent) survive five years. A key reason for the high mortality is that effective treatment and screening tests are lacking.
However, scientists at the University of North Carolina are hoping their recent genetics discovery could pave the way for both.
Using the first mouse model ever for the worst form of the disease -- ovarian clear cell carcinoma -- the researchers discovered that when mutations occur in two genes – ARID1A and PIK3CA – the mice developed ovarian clear cell carcinoma 100 percent of the time.
The two genes were previously unknown to cause cancer, they said.
They also showed that a drug called BKM120 inhibits tumor growth and significantly prolongs the lives of the mice. The drug is currently being tested in human clinical trials for other forms of cancer.
The researchers are also hoping that their findings could be used to develop a screening test for the disease.
“Right now, by the time women find out they have ovarian clear cell carcinoma, it's usually too late. If we can find it earlier, we'll have much better luck successfully treating patients,” said Ron Chandler, the research fellow who led the UNC team.
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