Within the most common ovarian cancer type, high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), there is high variability both in terms of tumor properties and responses to current standard treatments. However, a recurrent finding in previous studies is that when ovarian carcinoma cells start to resemble mesenchymal cells (connective tissues), the response to current treatments is often poor. This project utilizes two large Finnish ovarian cancer study cohorts and focuses on isolating cancers with mesenchymal features out of the heterogenous mass of HGSCs to 1) define a novel tumor type, 2) optimize the diagnostic methods for this novel tumor type to ensure the right diagnosis at the right time, and 3) identify possible effective treatment targets. This project represents the first pivotal step in enabling early diagnostics and tailored treatments of a subgroup of ovarian cancers that respond poorly to current treatments, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.

2024

2028