Molecular pathogenesis and therapeutic targets in epithelial ovarian cancer

Jeremy R. Chien, Giovanni Aletti, Debra A. Bell, Gary L. Keeney, Viji Shridhar, Lynn C. Hartmann

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ovarian cancer, the most aggressive gynecologic cancer, is the foremost cause of death from gynecologic malignancies in the developed world. Two primary reasons explain its aggressive behavior: most patients present with advanced disease at diagnosis, and die of recurrences from disease that has become resistant to conventional chemotherapies. In this paper on epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), we will review molecular alterations associated with the few precursor lesions identified to date, followed by the more commonly recognized processes of de novo carcinogenesis, metastasis, and the development of chemoresistance. We will propose a unifying model of ovarian epithelial tumorigenesis that takes into account various hypotheses. We will also review novel approaches to overcome the major problem of chemoresistance in ovarian cancer. Finally, we will discuss advances and new challenges in the development of mouse model systems to investigate EOC precursor lesions, progression, metastasis, and chemoresistance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1117-1129
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of cellular biochemistry
Volume102
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2007

Keywords

  • Molecular pathogenesis
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Therapeutic targets

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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