In line with the known roles of folate/FRα pathway in cell growth, proliferation and survival [11, 12] (Supplementary Fig. 1C), we found dysregulated expression of folate pathway genes in ovarian cancer [36]: gene expression of FOLR1, TYMS (thymidylate synthase) DHFR (dihydrofolate reductase) were significantly-greater, and gene expression of MTFHR (methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase) was lower in tumours (N = 426), compared to normal ovary (N = 88) (Supplementary Fig. 1D). Here, DHFR is linked to ovarian carcinoma.