Ultrasound Plus Proteomic Blood Analyses May Help Diagnose Early-Stage Ovarian Cancer
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Ultrasound Plus Proteomic Blood Analyses May Help Diagnose Early-Stage Ovarian Cancer

RESTON, Va -- January 21, 2010 -- Noninvasive contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging, combined with proteomic analyses of blood samples may help physicians identify early-stage ovarian cancer, according to a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.

“The fact that so many women are not diagnosed until their disease is advanced confirms the inadequacy of pelvic examinations and standard ultrasound in detecting early-stage ovarian cancer and the dire need for a validated screening method for the detection of early-stage disease,” said lead author David A. Fishman, MD, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, New York University (NYU) School of Medicine, and the Cancer Screening and Prevention Program, NYU Cancer Institute, New York, New York.

“The ability to detect ovarian cancer by a simple blood test has long been the holy grail of screening tests,” he said. “Although a single biomarker blood test would be ideal and simple, it is not possible at present.”

The study of proteomics and new analytical techniques using mass spectrometry has led to the discovery of hundreds of unique proteins that may serve as biomarkers and aid in the detection of early-stage cancer. “This new discovery sheds light on the possibility that highly discriminatory proteins may be used for the detection of ovarian cancer,” said Dr. Fishman. “However it is necessary to verify any information found by proteomic analysis with an imaging technique.”

Researchers have discovered that contrast-enhanced ultrasound may play a complementary role to confirming or refuting newly discovered biomarkers’ ability to accurately detect early-stage ovarian cancer. “We also found that the contrast agents may significantly improve the diagnostic ability of ultrasound to identify early microvascular changes that are known to be associated with early-stage ovarian cancer,” said coauthor Arthur C. Fleischer, MD, Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.

“Separately, proteomics and ultrasound are of limited value as early-detection tools,” said Dr. Fleischer. “However in combination, we will likely be able to shift from an era of diagnosing advanced stage ovarian cancer to that of early-stage disease and, most important, save the lives of many women.”

SOURCE: American Roentgen Ray Society

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