Where Does Ovarian Cancer Originate?

It used to be thought that the ovaries were the origin of high grade serous ovarian cancer - certainly the name of the cancer suggests its origins. However research at multiple health centers points to another source: the fallopian tubes.

The consortium of centers included Johns Hopkins University, Toronto University Health Network, Yale University and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Using molecular profiling, researchers were able to show that the cellular origin of the cancer was most closely aligned to the fallopian tube region rather than the ovaries. This is significant because in high-risk women, currently the ovaries and the fallopian tubes are generally removed. The ability to preserve the ovaries could reduce the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and other diseases associated with ovarian resection.

To read more about this study, follow this link.