A new study explains why ovarian cancer spreads so quickly and becomes so dangerous. Researchers found that cancer cells do not spread alone. Instead, they recruit healthy cells in the abdomen to help them invade other organs.
Unlike many cancers that travel through the bloodstream, ovarian cancer cells float in abdominal fluid. During this time, they attach to mesothelial cells, which normally protect the abdominal lining. Together, they form mixed cell clusters. The cancer cells release a protein called TGF-β1, which changes the healthy mesothelial cells into aggressive cells. These transformed cells grow spike-like structures that drill into nearby organs, creating a path for the cancer cells to spread.
The study also found that these mixed clusters are more resistant to chemotherapy and invade tissue faster than single cancer cells. Researchers believe the cancer cells “outsource” the hard work of invasion to the healthy cells they manipulate. This discovery suggests new treatment strategies, such as blocking the TGF-β1 pathway or preventing these clusters from forming. Doctors may also be able to monitor these clusters in abdominal fluid to better predict how the disease will progress and respond to treatment.