Screening and Detection of Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

According to the National Cancer Institute, ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer in women and the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancies. Most often the disease is advanced before symptoms are evident. It is estimated that only 15% to 30% of women in advanced stages will survive 5 years, whereas, of women in stage I at the time of diagnosis, 95% are likely to be alive in 5 years, and most are cured following surgery. Current screening techniques recommended for women with known strong risk factors include combination transvaginal sonography with cancer antigen (CA-125). Transvaginal sonography and serum CA-125 have limited diagnostic predictability. A new early detection method that uses proteomic technology will soon be available. The OvaCheck test, as researchers purport, is a highly specific and sensitive early detection method for ovarian cancer in women with strong risk factors. The Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve nationwide marketing of OvaCheck for early detection, because trials are not yet complete. Anticipated commercial availability is scheduled for early 2005.

Identification of serum biomarkers for ovarian cancer using MALDI–TOF-MS combined with magnetic beads

“…However increased CA125 was observed in only 50-60% of stage I patients [3,4], leading to 10% success with CA125 alone or 20% when combined with ultrasonic examination. This emphasized the importance of finding a highly sensitive and specific biomarker for early diagnosis of ovarian cancer [5,6].…”

Augmented inhibition of angiogenesis by combination of HER2 antibody chA21 and trastuzumab in human ovarian carcinoma xenograft

“…Despite the advances in surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the average time of clinical remission is 2.5 years and approximately 20% of patients never achieve remission [2]. Thus it underscores the need for new therapeutic strategies that can be translated to the clinical treatment.…”

Ovarian cancer: emerging concept on cancer stem cells

“…Mucinous tumors, on the other hand, contain cells resembling endocervical glands, and endometrioid tumors contain cells resembling the endometrium. Non-epithelial types of ovarian cancer include sex cord-stromal tumors (6% of ovarian cancers) and germ cell tumors (3% of all malignant ovarian neoplasms) [ 49 - 51 ]. The histological subtypes of ovarian carcinoma have identifiable precursor lesions and early genetic alterations.…”