Scientists have discovered that in early stages, life cycle of ovarian cancer tumor can be reversed by a type of ribonucleic acid, RNA. At this stage the best bet is chemotherapy and RNA can prove effective.

This finding holds weight because ovarian cancer is diagnosed only in later stages and by this time chemotherapy does not work as a treatment at all.

Scientists at one of the top engineering schools in the US, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Tech, have found that spreading of cancer cells and getting converted back into a form that is less invasive can be done by a regulatory RNA called miR-429.

John McDonald, Director of the Integrated Cancer Research Center at Georgia Tech said that primary tumors are not fatal most of the time.

Two kinds of ovarian cells lines were used by scientists in the tests. One was with characteristics of metastasizing spreading tumors and the other was that held characteristics of primary tumors.

Researchers said that cells could turn the clock back with the help of miR-429.

McDonald said, “We are hopeful that we have found an effective way to drive metastasizing ovarian cancer cells back to their primary cancer stage where they can be more effectively treated with existing chemotherapies.”