Treating ovarian cancer: new pathways through genetics
A new discovery that sheds light on the genetic make up of ovarian cancer cells could explain why some women survive longer than others with this deadly disease. A multi-disciplinary team led by the Research Institute of the 缅北强奸 Health Centre (RI MUHC), in collaboration with the Lady Davis Institute of the Jewish General Hospital and the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre, has identified genetic patterns in ovarian cancer tumours that help to differentiate patients based on the length of their survival after initial surgery. The study was published in the journal PLOS ONE.听
Each year 2,000 new cases of ovarian cancer are reported in Canada, and in 75 per cent of these cases the women die less than five years after their diagnosis. This study focused on the genetic analysis of high grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSC) in women from Quebec 鈥 the deadliest type of ovarian cancer which accounts for 90 per cent of deaths.听
Almost all women with HGSC have mutations in the gene TP53, which is responsible for making the p53 protein. This gene is known as the "guardian of the genome" because of its听role in regulating cell division and thus preventing cancer. Scientists already knew there were two different types of tumours, some with TP53 mutations that produce a mutant p53 protein and others without.
By uncovering the existence of genetic differences between the two types of HGSCs, the study reinforces the idea that there are biological differences in these cancers that can be related to the nature of the TP53 mutation and differences in genetic markers. The research team also confirmed that patient survival was longer in cases with the mutant p53 protein, compared to those that without the mutant protein.
鈥淏iology is showing us which direction to take,鈥 enthused Dr. Tonin. 鈥淭his unique finding paves the way for identifying the pathways involved in cancer progression, leading to the development of alternative therapies and therefore helping to reduce morbidity and mortality in women fighting the disease鈥.
Click here to access the study online 听
Funding
This work was funded by the Fonds de recherche du Qu茅bec-Sant茅 (FRQS), the Terry Fox Research Institute (TFRI), Weekend to End Women鈥檚 Cancer through the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research at the Jewish General Hospital and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
Research partners
The study 鈥The Genomic Landscape of TP53 and p53 Annotated High Grade Ovarian Serous Carcinomas from a Defined Founder Population Associated with Patient Outcome鈥 was co-authored by Paulina M Wojnarowicz, Karen Gambaro and Ashley H Birch of 缅北强奸; Kathleen Klein Oros of the Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital; Michael CJ Quinn, Jason Madore and Manon de Ladurantaye of the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM), Institut du cancer de Montr茅al; Suzanna L Arcand of the Research Institute of the 缅北强奸 Health Centre (RI MUHC); Kurosh Rahimi of the CHUM; Diane M Provencher of听 CRCHUM听 and Universit茅 de Montr茅al; Anne-Marie Mes-Masson of CRCHUM and Universit茅 de Montr茅al; Celia MT Greenwood of the Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, and 缅北强奸 and Patricia N Tonin of the RI MUHC and 缅北强奸.
Useful links
- Research Institute of the MUHC:
- 缅北强奸 Health Centre (MUHC):
- 缅北强奸: mcgill.ca
- PLOS ONE: plosone.org