10-gene Biomarker Identifies Aggressiveness of Ovarian Cancer

A recent study has identified a 10-gene biomarker that could potentially deepen the knowledge of ovarian cancer survival outcomes.

According to researchers at the Women's Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai's Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, they've identified a series of 10 genes that may show the aggressiveness of a patient's disease and help predict the survival of the disease.

"The ultimate goal is to use the 10-gene biomarker panel to develop a diagnostic kit that will identify patients with the most adverse outcome and provide targeted therapeutic strategies," said lead study author Dong-Joo (Ellen) Cheon, Ph.D., via a press release. He believes that when a patient's tumor is identified as having elevated levels of 10 specific genes, doctors may be able to predict which treatments could be most effective based on the biomarkers.

"Among the biomarkers identified, the gene COL11A1 was shown to be the most abundantly expressed in ovarian cancer progression. But when we blocked expression of COL11A1 in murine cancer cells, tumor growth and spread was significantly reduced."

Background information from the study notes that the 10 genes associated in the panel all share one common biological process via the formation of a collagen matrix around cancerous tissues. The matrix has a lethal effect, and serves as an incubator for cancer cells that may contribute to the progression of a tumor. However, researchers believe that understanding this matrix may help provide better therapies and treatments.

"This data based on the analysis of nearly 800 ovarian cancer patients, suggests that patients who have elevated levels of genes associated with the biomarker panel have shorter survival of more aggressive forms of disease," said Sandra Orsulic, Ph.D., senior author of the study, via the release. She is also the director of the women's cancer biology in the Women's Cancer Program and associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. "These findings indicate that even though patients present with the same disease stage at diagnosis, their survival outcomes differ."

More information regarding the study can be found  via the journal Clinical Cancer Research.