Grant: Operating Grant

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), which is the most common form of the ovarian cancer, has the highest mortality rate of female cancers. The low survival rate for women with EOC results from an inability to detect the disease at an early, curable stage, from the lack of effective treatment for the advanced cancer, and from our incomplete understanding of how the EOC develops. Recently, we discovered that a protein named cyclin G2 exerts potent anti-tumour effects in ovarian cancer. We also observed that several growth factors, which promote ovarian cancer metastasis, decreased cyclin G2 levels. These novel findings suggest that cyclin G2 plays important roles in inhibiting ovarian metastasis. In this study, we will further investigate the functions of cyclin G2 in preventing ovarian cancer development. We will also determine how cyclin G2 exterts anti-tumor effects. Finally, we will evaluate how oncogenic signals inhibit cyclin G2 expression. This study will lead to a better understanding of ovarian epithelial carcinogenesis and may ultimately provide a potential screening and/or therapeutic approach for EOC.