Pre-clinical studies conducted by Yale scientists have indicated that the NV-128 compound can induce the death of chemo-resistant ovarian cancer cells by halting the activation of a protein pathway called mTOR. mTOR signals enhance tumor growth in cancerous cells and inhibition of mTOR could shut down many of these survival pathways, including proteins that protect the mitochondria of cancer cells. NV-128, developed by Novogen Limited, holds promise as a more targeted therapy for ovarian cancer because it works differently from traditional therapies that are dependent on enzymes, known as caspases, to trigger cell death.

The presence of a combination of proteins called HE4 and CA 125 may be the key to predicting the risk of ovarian cancer in women, according to a study. Presently, there is no reliable diagnostic test for the disease. Therefore, patients have the cyst removed by surgery, irrespective of whether or not it is malignant.