BOSTON -- There is promising new research on one of the deadliest cancers.

As NewsCenter 5's Heather Unurh reported Tuesday, local researchers have made a key discovery that could lead to better treatment of ovarian cancer.

"I had stage 4 ovarian (cancer) which had spread through the entire abdominal area, to some other organs, and my lung as well," said Kim Lohnes, of Action, Mass.

In March, Lohnes was forced to fight a papillary serous tumor. It's the most common, most deadly type of ovarian cancer.

"Patients will feel bloating, pain, some abdominal discomfort. And usually when they're feeling that the tumors have already spread through the abdomen," said Dr. Michael Birrer, the director of medical gynecologic oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center.

The aggressive, often large tumors, are difficult to treat even with standard treatment.

"All patients with ovarian cancer, historically and today. essentially are treated the same. They all get surgery and combination chemotherapy," Birrer said.

But Birrer is excited about a key discovery his research team found that could lead to better treatments.

"We should in the near future be able to tailor treatments specifically to the patient's tumor," he said.

The study, published in the Cancer Cell, explains how researchers dissected serous tumors in 53 Boston-area patients, and found an elevated number of the gene, MAGP2. This over expressive gene, not previously associated with any type of cancer, could explain why these tumors spread so rapidly. It's discovery could one day improve treatment options.

"We think MAGP2 may be a target that we can develop drugs to," Birrer said.

"To discover those things earlier on, to take preventative measures once your identified with one of those biomarkers, to prevent the entire thing in the first place," said Lohnes.