Good early results for ovarian CA test.(Gynecology)

PASADENA, CALIF. -- A panel of biomarker proteins developed by California researchers was able to diagnose early-stage mucinous ovarian cancer tumors with 100% sensitivity and specificity in a small study.

In contrast, the biomarker CA 125 accurately predicted just 67% of malignant tumors in the same serum samples, Dr. Robin Farias-Eisner reported at a meeting of the Obstetrical and Gynecological Assembly of Southern California.

The diagnostic panel consists of a combination of four newly identified proteins that are either upregulated or downregulated in serum in the presence of ovarian cancer cells.

In addition, the panel includes the tumor marker CA 125, which is notoriously nonspecific when used alone but adds to accuracy when combined with other biomarkers.

The panel is designated tumor specific, meaning that it produces a distinctive proteomic pattern in response to no other type of cancer or inflammatory condition.

An early validation study found that the panel predicted 10 of 11 early-stage tumors, 11 of 11 late-stage tumors, 6 of 6 tumors of low malignant potential, 5 of 6 benign tumors, and 9 of 10 normal serum samples.

"Now our numbers are much larger and [the panel] identified, with great reliability, early-stage disease," said Dr. Farias-Eisner, chief of gynecologic oncology and director of the center for biomarker discovery and research at the University of California, Los Angeles.