Study finds 12 genetic variants that raise the risk of ovarian cancer

Posted May 12, 2017

Ovarian cancer is a common form of cancer and a leading cause of cancer death among women. The genes we inherit affect our chances of developing ovarian cancer, and a new genomic study identifies 12 genetic variants associated with the risk.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that almost 21,000 women in the United States were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2013, and more than 14,000 died from the disease.

Early detection of ovarian cancer is crucial in improving the patients’ survival rate. If the cancer is diagnosed in the early stages – that is, before it has spread beyond the ovaries – the survival rate is estimated at 92 percent. However, according to the American Cancer Society, only 15 percent of ovarian cancers are diagnosed this early.

Read more on Medicine News Today by Ana Sandiou, Study finds 12 genetic variants that raise the risk of ovarian cancer