Biomedical Engineering Student Seeks to Understand Early Stages of Ovarian Cancer

Flanigan explains that the abnormal fallopian tube cells seem to reach the ovary through a natural gap that is developed during a woman’s menstrual cycle. During the menstrual cycle, an egg is released from an ovarian follicle. This entire process also releases the topmost layer of cells on the ovary, as well as several other molecular aspects that support the surrounding cells. At this time, the mutated fallopian tube cells can enter into the opening in the ovary. While the topmost layer of cells eventually heals itself, the mutated fallopian tube cells are entrapped within the environment, thus leading to ovarian cancer.