Abstract
Ovarian cancer (EOC) represents the most lethal gynecological malignancy and a very heterogeneous group of tumors with insufficient diagnostics and treatment. Genetic predispositions are associated only with a small percentage of cases.
Epidemiological factors have not been elucidated so far in detail. Three concepts are suggested for the EOC origin: epithelial mesenchymal transition, secondary origin and cancer stem cells.
The discovery and investigation of regulatory molecules of RNA in the last decade have changed the view of gene regulations in various cellular processes. The most investigated class of molecules represent microRNA, which may be connected with carcinogenesis.
They may function as tumor suppressors, or oncogenes. The survey is provided on the current diagnostic and treatment approaches regarding EOC, on the background of research on regulatory microRNA and other factors, associated for example with chemoresistance or prognosis.