The oviduct and ovarian cancer: causality, clinical implications, and "targeted prevention"

Abstract

A novel origin for pelvic serous cancer (ovarian cancer) has been proposed in the distal oviduct. This has important implications, including both early detection in high-risk women and wisdom of relying on serological tests to detect a disease that begins so close to the peritoneal surfaces. With the recent discovery of premalignant disturbances in gene function in the tubal mucosa, the concept of targeted prevention is emerging whereby the interruption of a portion of the carcinogenic pathway will prevent cancer. This alternative to detect early malignancy is a new paradigm in the quest to prevent this deadly disease.