These findings, which were replicated across two cohorts, make abnormal BRCA1 methylation the second strongest risk factor for ovarian cancer beyond an out-and-out BRCA1 mutation.

One thing I want to point out here – these methylation results did not come from ovarian tissue – these were the results in white blood cells. It's already pretty clear that abnormal methylation at the tissue level can promote cancer in that tissue – this is one of the best studies yet to demonstrate that the methylation problem may be global.

But how does this abnormal methylation happen? Is it some environmental exposure that we could potentially avoid? The researchers believe the relevant exposure happens in utero or early in life, based on data from a cohort of newborns.

What that exposure is, though, remains in the mists of science's undiscovered country.

Aside from identifying a new risk factor for ovarian cancer, there is something more compelling about this study. Because the BRCA1 gene in these women is normal, one can imagine a therapy that would reduce methylation allowing the gene to be properly transcribed. Would this open the door to a novel treatment in a subset of women with ovarian cancer? Or perhaps a therapy that would help prevent ovarian cancer in the first place? I’m sure that’s something we would all promote.