[Genetic alterations in the genesis and development of ovarian cancer]

Genetic alterations of various cancers have been clarified by recent development of molecular biology. Multiple genetic alterations occur through the development of cancer. Both activation of proto-oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes are important for the development of cancer. Alterations of oncogenes such as K-ras, c-erbB-2/HER-2/neu and c-myc, and those of tumor suppressor genes such as p53, RB and DCC have been reported in ovarian cancer. Allelic losses of the specific chromosomes, which suggest the existence of tumor suppressor genes on those chromosomes, also have been reported in ovarian cancer. Further studies on genetic alterations of ovarian cancer will clarify the mechanisms for the development of ovarian cancer and also will develop new methods for prevention, diagnosis and treatment in clinical.