Two gene mutations mark deadly ovarian cancer

WASHINGTON — Researchers have identified two new genetic mutations that cause a significant number of the hardest-to-treat kinds of ovarian cancer, and say they point to a new "on-off" switch for tumors.

They hope their findings may eventually help doctors better tailor cancer treatments and also lead to the development of drugs to treat these forms of cancer.

The findings, published by two separate teams of researchers in the journal Science and the New England Journal of Medicine, also suggest a previously unknown mechanism for how cancer begins.

The genes affect ovarian clear cell carcinoma, one of the most aggressive forms of ovarian cancer. It accounts for about 10 percent to 12 percent of ovarian cancer, itself one of the deadliest and most difficult to treat tumor types.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39066656/ns/health-cancer/

Clear cell carcinoma (CCC), also sometimes called clear cell cancer, is a rare form of tumor that is characterized by cells that appear pale in color or clear, with solid boundary demarcations under the microscope. These cells tend to be either filled with fluid or glycogen. Clear cell carcinoma can be found in many different types of tumors.

Carcinoma tumors arise from epithelial cells. Epithelial cells make up the surface of the body and cavities. Even though clear cell carcinoma can occur in many different locations, it is recognized as a vaginal and lower urinary tract disease. Most clear cell carcinoma tumors are malignant and are considered to be a high grade cancer, but they often have a high survival rate.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-clear-cell-carcinoma.htm