New Protein May Be Biomarker for Ovarian Cancer

A recent study has found significantly higher levels of a protein called EphA2 in ovarian cancer cell lines and malignant tumors than in noncancerous cell lines and benign ovarian masses. The results were reported in the August 1, 2004, issue of Clinical Cancer Research.

Data from the study showed that laboratory models and clinical specimens of ovarian cancer had high levels of AphA2. At least 76% of the invasive ovarian tumor samples in the study overexpressed EphA2, with the highest levels consistently found on the most aggressive cancers. Also, high levels of EphA2 were shown to contribute to cancer progression and may predict poorer patient outcome and survival.

EphA2 is also overexpressed by other types of human cancers, including melanoma, breast, and prostate cancer. The fact that the highest levels have been found on the most aggressive cancer cells is consistent with evidence linking EphA2 to clinical features of metastasis. Researchers have found that EphA2 functions differently on malignant cells than it does on normal cells. These differences may lead to the selective targeting of cancer cells while minimizing toxicity in normal cells.

The study was conducted by scientists at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas (Houston, USA). "The identification of a biomarker that could predict disease progression is promising to those of us fighting this disease in the clinic as well as the lab,” said lead author Anil K. Sood, M.D., associate professor, gynecologic oncology at M.D. Anderson. "We now have a rationale for developing a strategy to target this protein, EphA2, to increase patient survival.”

Researchers at MedImmune (Gaithersburg, MD, USA) have built a body of scientific evidence demonstrating the role of EphA2 as well as the potential for EphA2 antibodies and vaccines to specifically treat or prevent certain cancers. They believe the development of products targeting EphA2 might result in better outcomes for ovarian cancer patients.

"In light of data linking high levels of EphA2 with poor survival, this [study] emphasizes the potential opportunity that targeted intervention could provide in the battle against the most deadly forms of this disease,” noted Peter Kiener, D.Phil., vice president, research, MedImmune.





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