The biology of ovarian cancer

摘要: Recent studies have begun to elucidate the molecular events involved in development of ovarian cancer. First, it has been shown that epithelial cells both produce and receptors for many peptide growth factors. It is possible these factors may participate autocrine paracrine growth-regulatory pathways cells. Increased activity stimulatory factors, eg, transforming factor-alpha, or decreased inhibitor factor-beta, facilitate malignant transformation. In addition, cancer often acquired ability degrade extracellular matrix invade underlying tissues. Finally, alterations several oncogenes tumor-suppressor genes, including HER2/neu, c-myc, p53, found cancers. Although exciting insights into pathology gained, we remain far from a comprehensive understanding biology this highly lethal disease.