The role of molecular biology in understanding ovarian cancer initiation and progression

In this review, we will present clinical and experimental data that the sur face epithelial cells of the ovary are the most likely cell of origin of ov arian cancer. Using a rat model of the disease, we demonstrate the utility of the molecular techniques of Differential Display Genome Scanning and Sup pression Subtractive Hybridization to detect gene expression and genetic di fferences between normal rat surface epithelial cells and their transformed counterpart. Lastly, we provide examples of how molecular techniques can b e used to predict which tumors will respond to chemotherapy.