This Simple Test Can Tell If You Have Ovarian Cancer

A potential breakthrough in the detection of ovarian cancer is imminent following the discovery of three distinct proteins that serve as reliable indicators. These proteins were successfully extracted from samples using nanowires coated with a specialized chemical. This discovery offers a glimmer of hope for the development of a screening program capable of diagnosing the disease at an earlier stage. Ovarian cancer, often referred to as "the silent killer," typically exhibits symptoms only after it has already spread throughout the body.

Nanowires and Specialized Coating: Advancing the Development of a Simple Blood Test

These proteins, known as extracellular vesicles (EVs), are minute proteins released by tumors that can be isolated from bodily fluids like blood, urine, and saliva.

In this study, a team of Japanese scientists managed to extract EVs from the most prevalent type of ovarian cancer, high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), utilizing a scanning technique called liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

The results, published in the journal Science Advances, revealed that each of the three identified proteins served as a reliable biomarker for HGSC (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Identifying high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma–specific extracellular vesicles by polyketone-coated nanowires

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Promising Implications: Personalized Medicine and Improved Survival Rates

Dr. Akira Yokoi, the lead author of the study from Nagoya University, stated, "The results of this research suggest that these diagnostic biomarkers can be used as predictive markers for specific therapies. Our findings enable doctors to optimize their treatment strategies for ovarian cancer, making them potentially valuable for the realization of personalized medicine."

Statistics show that nine out of ten women diagnosed with ovarian cancer at an early stage survive, whereas the survival rate drops dramatically to just one out of ten for late-stage diagnoses. Presently, only a third of cases are detected early, but the discovery of these three proteins introduces a promising new diagnostic tool.

Dr. Yokoi explained that the validation process for the identified proteins was challenging due to the extensive experimentation with different antibodies to identify an effective target. Subsequently, the researchers coated nanowires with a novel thermoplastic polymer called polyketone, enabling the separation of proteins from blood samples.

Despite the difficulty faced during this process, Dr. Yokoi expressed satisfaction with the choice of polyketones as a coating material, stating." Although polyketones are entirely new for this type of nanowire coating, they turned out to be an excellent fit."

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Reference:

1. Identifying high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma–specific extracellular vesicles by polyketone-coated nanowires - (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ade6958)

Source-Medindia