New research identifies 12 new genes that can cause ovarian cancer

The researchers said understanding how the identified genes work may help treat better and possibly prevent ovarian cancer.

A dozen new genetic variants that have the potential to increase the risk of women developing ovarian cancer have been identified by a team of international scientists, in a study of nearly 1,00,000 people.

“We know that a woman’s genetic make-up accounts for about one-third of her risk of developing ovarian cancer. This is the inherited component of disease risk,” said Paul Pharoah, professor at the University of Cambridge in Britain.

Inherited faults in genes such as the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations – also known to increase the risk of breast cancer – account for about 40% of the genetic risk.

For the study, published in the journal Nature Genetics, the team conducted a genetic trawl through the DNA of almost 1,00,000 people, including 17,000 patients with the most common type of ovarian cancer.

The findings revealed 12 new genetic variants, while confirming the association of 18 of the previously published variants. In total, there are now known to be 30 risk variants, accounting for 6.5% of the inherited component of risk, in addition to the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, the researchers said.

Researchers say taking the oral contraceptive pill, undergoing invasive surgery to remove ovaries and fallopian tubes as well as having kids may help reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.

Factors such as taking the oral contraceptive pill, undergoing invasive surgery to remove ovaries and fallopian tubes as well as having children may help reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, the researchers said.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for more.