Lnc-ing ZEB to non-coding RNAs: an alternative path to drug resistance in ovarian cancer?

Emily Carvalho

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common cancers in women, with around 390 women being diagnosed per year in Ireland alone. High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSOC), which forms abnormal tumours in the lining of the abdominal and pelvic cavities, is the most common and fatal form of all ovarian cancer types.

This research project specifically focuses on HGSOC. Ovarian cancer can, unfortunately, go unnoticed in the initial stages, and by the time it is detected, it can often be too late and will have spread to other parts of the body. The spread of cancer involves a process called epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), where the cancer cells move between different states. EMT also causes drug resistance, where existing drug treatments stop working for the cancer. It is therefore important to be able to recognise and diagnose this form of ovarian cancer before it reaches this stage.

Our research aims to look at a specific protein called the ZEB protein which is usually present in high levels in cancer cells that helps promote EMT and as a result, makes the cells drug-resistant. However, researchers in our group have found that in high-grade serous ovarian cancer, ZEB levels are very low. We also suspect that ZEB protein may be linked to a special group of RNA molecules so, this research project aims to find out if ZEB controls the production of these RNA molecules and if extra ZEB can push high-grade serous ovarian cancer cells into EMT. We think this type of ovarian cancer behaves differently from other types – the link may be between ZEB and this group of RNA molecules. Overall, this project will hopefully positively contribute to a better understanding of the process driving ovarian cancer spread and to help in its early detection.