Oncogenic pathways implicated in ovarian epithelial cancer

Ovarian epithelial cancer is a complex group of neoplasms with an overall poor prognosis. Comprehension of this cancer pathobiology suffers because of an incomplete understanding of precursor lesions and the absence of an orthotopic animal model. There have been a growing number of studies aimed at identifying controls, mechanisms, and signal transduction. pathways that permit or inhibit cell growth and apoptosis in malignant ovarian epithelial cells. These studies are summarized in this article with emphasis on data obtained within the authors' Ovarian Epithelial Cancer Pathobiology Program, where the roles of the Akt oncogene, telomerase, estrogens, and insulin-like growth factor receptor I in ovarian epithelial cancer are under investigation.