US EditionPitt study uncovers a novel trigger of deadly form of ovarian cancer
- On March 14 2025, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh published a Cancer Discovery study identifying a novel trigger of high-grade serous ovarian cancer , the most common form of ovarian cancer.
- HGSOC often begins in the fallopian tubes, where healthy epithelial cells transform into precursor lesions known as serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma .
- The trigger is a subset of progenitor cells, named 'high-risk MSCs', that reside in the fallopian tube stroma and become reprogrammed by tumor cells to support cancer growth, with these cells being more common in women with a higher risk of ovarian cancer.
- Lan Coffman, co-senior author and associate professor at Pitt School of Medicine, stated that stromal changes in the fallopian tube have a causative role in ovarian cancer initiation and that compounds secreted by high-risk MSCs detectable in the bloodstream could act as biomarkers for early-stage ovarian cancer.
- This discovery, revealing that high-risk MSCs promote DNA damage and help mutated cells survive, could pave the way for improved prevention and detection strategies for HGSOC, which kills over 12,000 women in the U.S. Annually and is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancer in the Western world.
15 Articles
15 Articles
New clue towards prevention and detection of ovarian cancer
High-risk MSCs (yellow) are more abundant in fallopian tubes from patients with STIC lesions (left) compared to those without these lesions (right). Credit: Garcia et al. 2025, Cancer Discovery In vital progress in the fight against high-grade serious carcinoma, one of the most aggressive and common forms of ovarian cancer, researchers have identified a subset of cells in the fallopian tubes that drive the disease. The findings, presented in a n…
Scientists Uncover Hidden Cells That Spark Ovarian Cancer’s Deadly Growth
Scientists have uncovered a hidden driver of ovarian cancer—high-risk mesenchymal stem cells lurking in the fallopian tubes. These cells, present even in healthy women at risk, set the stage for cancer by promoting DNA damage and helping mutated cells survive. Their discovery opens new doors for prevention, early detection, and targeted therapies. Uncovering a Hidden [...]
Major discovery identifies the cause of ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is the deadliest form of gynecologic cancer, taking the lives of more than 13,000 women in the U.S. each year. The most common type, high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC), is particularly dangerous because it is often diagnosed at a late stage when it has already spread. Early detection methods are lacking, and symptoms are vague, making prevention and timely treatment a challenge. Researchers are working to uncover the mech…
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