Genome Engineering

Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynaecological cancer, and is often diagnosed late, as its symptoms overlap with many other conditions. It causes around 70% of the deaths associated with ovarian cancer in the USA. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TGCA) Research Network has published its integrated genomic analysis of ovarian carcinoma – this is the second cancer completed by this group.

In the research published in Nature, the researchers analysed 489 high-grade serous ovarian adenocarcinomas, looking at messenger RNA (mRNA) expression, microRNA expression, promoter methylation, DNA copy number and DNA sequences of exons from coding genes.

The study did not link any new genes to ovarian cancer, but showed highly disordered DNA, including missing and extra copies of genes. Almost all of the tumours showed TP53 mutations, and there were mutations in nine other genes at low but statistically significant levels, including NF1, BRCA1, BRCA2, RB1 and CDK12. These and other genes are linked to the in the RB, PI3K/RAS, and NOTCH signaling pathways.

Some researchers were disappointed that this has not discovered new genes, but knowledge about the genes and pathways may help researchers to find new drugs and redirect research into existing drugs that target these markers.