Small non-coding RNA may help block ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecologic cancer.  Much of the death seen  is due to the direct spread of organs in the abdomen.  One of the changes that make cancer cells more likely to spread (metastasize) is a change known as the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).  Essentially, this change makes the cells behave in a more 'primitive' way, and that includes the ability to move around.

Researchers studying the behavior of ovarian cancer cells have found that a small RNA molecule (miR-429), naturally produced in cells, can reverse this process and may be of value as a treatment for ovarian cancer.