Activin signalling pathway involved in ovarian cancer

Andrew Shelling

Dr Shelling has found evidence that activin is involved in the development of ovarian cancer.  A member of the TGFß superfamily of ligands, activin shares its intracellular signalling pathway with TGFß.  Like TGFß, activin can help to suppress the growth of many cancers that originate in the layers of cells that make up the tissue covering the surfaces of organs, including the ovaries.  When ovarian cancer occurs, the TGFß pathway is often found to be dysfunctional.  In particular, granulosa cell tumours show specific unique defects in this pathway, and usually have defective activin receptors.  Dr Shelling believes this defect can be corrected by replacing it with a normal receptor, which should slow the growth of the tumour.

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