The biology of ovarian cancer: new opportunities for translation

Cancer research · Ovarian cancer · TP53

Mutation and loss of TP53 function is one of the most frequent genetic abnormalities in ovarian cancer and is observed in 60–80 % of both sporadic and familial cases.

Over the past two decades, the 5‑year survival for ovarian cancer patients has substantially improved owing to more effective surgery and treatment with empirically optimised combinations of cytotoxic drugs, but the overall cure rate remains approximately 30 %. Many investigators think that further empirical trials using combinations of conventional agents are likely to produce only modest incremental improvements in outcome. Given the heterogeneity of this disease, increases in long‑term survival might be achieved by translating recent insights at the molecular and cellular levels to personalise individual strategies for treatment and to optimise early detection.

TP53 dysfunction is a defining genomic event that underlies tumour initiation and progression in ovarian cancer, helping to identify patients for targeted therapies and influencing prognosis.

Evidence level: Korai humán adat. Kis vagy feltáró emberi adat.

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