A New Pathway in Ovarian Cancer (IMAGE) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Caption A previously undiscovered pathway through which ovarian cells can be transformed into cancer cells. The key is a protein called FER, which can be found floating in the cell cytoplasm. CSHL scientists demonstrated that it is both overproduced in ovarian cancer cells, and, importantly, responsible for the elevated motility (ability to move) and invasiveness of such cells. This was observed in human ovarian cancer cells grown in culture and then in mouse models of the disease. Above, the team shows what happens when FER is rendered inactive in various kinds of ovarian cancer cells grown in culture. The left panel (A) shows motility; the right panel (B) invasiveness. FER is active in the control cells, top row, (A) and (B); FER is inactive in the corresponding cells in the bottom row, (A) and (B). Credit Tonks Lab, CSHL/Genes&Development Usage Restrictions pls give credit License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.