Diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in ovarian cancer

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer in women and the most frequent cause of gynaecological malignancy-related mortality in women. The vast majority present in advanced stages and this is due to lack of a reliable screening test and the vagueness of symptoms. Acquired resistance to further chemotherapy is generally responsible for treatment failure. Currently, no standardized reliable screening test exists. Pelvic examination is practiced widely, but it is not sensitive enough to be used as a reliable screening tool. There is a need for reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers for this disease. MicroRNA profiling has allowed the identification of signatures associated with diagnosis, prognosis and response to treatment of human tumours. Furthermore a novel biomarker Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) has been recently demonstrated to be a sensitive and specific serum biomarker for ovarian cancer that is elevated less frequently by benign conditions that occur in premenopausal women.