Notch in ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancers are malignancies for which improved therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. The development of chemoresistance in ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma is almost inevitable, and researchers are constantly seeking new pathways to target in order to improve the dismal survival rates of women diagnosed with this disease. The Notch pathway in ovarian cancer represents a promising subject for research into new ovarian cancer treatment modalities. Over the last 12 years, the major Notch proteins (Notch1 and NOTCH3), prominent Notch ligands (JAG1 and DLL4), and downstream proteins (Hes1 and DLGAP5) have begun to be studied in ovarian cancers. The roles of Notch in conferring chemoresistance and acting in angiogenesis have also been demonstrated. Additionally, GSI and DLL4 inhibitors as well as Notch antibodies continue to be explored in both clinical and nonclinical settings. It is clear that future studies are needed in order to translate the results from these preclinical studies into practice. Most importantly, it is crucial to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of Notchbased therapy in ovarian cancer patients. There is still much work to be done in examining the pathways and proteins with which Notch may be associated as well as in developing more specific and more effective means of inhibiting Notch pathway components.