Molecular and biologic factors in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer.

The development and progression of epithelial ovarian cancer can be correlated with various biologic and molecular factors. Tumor growth has been associated with aberrant and dysfunctional expression and mutation of various genes. These genetic defects include oncogene overexpression, amplification or mutation, aberrant tumor suppressor gene expression or mutation, and the inappropriate expression of cytokines and growth factors and/or the cellular receptors for these molecules. Dysregulation of host immune responses may also play a permissive role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Since ovarian cancer has been associated with the frequency of ovulation, the repeated proliferation of epithelial cells may increase the chance of a genetic accident that could contribute to the activation of an oncogene or inactivation of a suppressor gene. These events, combined with the inherent ability of ovarian epithelial cells to respond to and produce various cytokines and growth factors, could promote oncogenesis.