Molecular biology of human ovarian cancer.
It has been proposed that epithelial ovarian cancers are of unifocal origin and arise from a single cell. Many alterations occur during the multistep carcinogenesis including interaction of peptide growth factors, activation of protooncogenes, and loss of tumor-suppressor genes. Increased activity of TGF-alpha and decreased activity of TGF-beta may contribute to the development of many ovarian cancers. Loss of TGF-beta responsiveness has been associated with the downregulation of c-myc expression in the development of ovarian cancer. Alternative expression of many oncogenes including ras, erbB2 and c-myc, were detected in many studies. p53 mutation was detected in 50% of advanced ovarian cancer, suggesting that loss of tumor-suppressor gene function facilitates transformation. Serum parameters like AFP, CEA, CA-125, IAP, LDH, SA, TGF-alpha, and M-CSF have been used as ovarian tumor markers. None of these biochemical markers is presently consistent and specific enough to be an early detection for ovarian cancers.
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, ROC.
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Chen
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D016259:Genes, myc / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009857:Oncogenes / Q000235:genetics; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000502:physiology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D004958:Estradiol