Biomarkers for Ovarian Pathology
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identifying ovarian and blood biomarkers for ovarian pathologies
IRAS ID
127808
Contact name
Lavinia Margarit
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
6 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Almost 7,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year. Ovarian cancer is the 5th most common cancer in women, with a long term survival rate of less than 30%. Despite the availability of current screening measures, such as transvaginal ultrasound, measurement of biomarker Ca125 levels or a combination of both methods, due to the heterogeneous nature of ovarian cancer the mortality rates remain high.
This study’s aim is to develop potential biomarkers that can be utilized in clinical settings to predict response to treatment for ovarian cancer and to add prognostic information and detect disease in women predicted to be high risk.
We have demonstrated in previous research that RAGE (receptor of advanced glycation end-products) and MUC1 levels are elevated in the lining of the womb of patients with endometrial cancer and pathological conditions associated with infertility as polycystic ovaries syndrome and endometriosis. Other studies have proved an increase of RAGE/AGE and MUC1 levels in these patients’ serum.
The epidemiology of ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer is closely linked sharing same risk factors.
Analysis of the risk factors for endometrial and ovarian cancer suggests that there are shared mechanisms in their pathogenesis.
This study will assess biomarkers by evaluating their expression levels, DNA mutations and sequences of the regulatory non-coding regions of the gene encoding for these biomarkers, in the ovarian tissue, extra ovarian tissue, ascitic fluid and blood of patients with ovarian pathology and also compare the levels of these biomarkers in the ovarian tissue and blood from controls. These assesments will be done on the samples from the patients recruited prospectively. In parallel retrospective fixed biopsy speciments available will be accesed via the Histopathology Department and examined.REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
15/WA/0065
Date of REC Opinion
23 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion