Biomedical Engineering Student Seeks to Understand Early Stages of Ovarian Cancer
This mutation is present in 95% of ovarian cancer cases
When the fallopian tube cells mutate with specific tumor-suppressing genes, they are able to live on their own for a prolonged period of time. “If these cells can survive from the fallopian tube to the ovary, there’s a chance they’re going to form cancer,” said Flanigan. In turn, the mutated cells are able to travel around throughout the body and develop connections with new cells. If these cells find their way into the ovary, this can trigger the onset of ovarian cancer. “This mutation is present in 95 percent of patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer. We’re sure it’s part of the cause of the cancer,” he added.