The study, published in Clinical Cancer Research, was led by Professor Gil Mor. Previous research has used four different proteins detected in blood with 95% accuracy. In this trial, six protein markers are used. The team recruited 518 women into the trial, 362 who were healthy controls and 156 women who had ovarian cancer. The six proteins were leptin, prolactin, osteopontin, insulin-like growth factor II, macrophage inhibitory factor, and CA-125, which were analysed using a multiplex, bead-based immunoassay system that requires very small quantities of blood.
On their own, none of the biomarkers were effective, but combined, their detection of cancer cells approached 99.4%. As the researchers point out, there is now the potential for a screening test for ovarian cancer.
Source: Clinical Cancer Research 14, 1065-1072, February 15, 2008. Published Online First February 7, 2008
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