Biomarkers for ovarian cancer detection and therapy

Abstract

Despite advances in surgical technologies and the development of more effective chemotherapeutics, epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains the leading cause of death in women with gynecologic malignancies. The high mortality and morbidity associated with EOC is mostly attributed to the inability to detect the disease before it is widely disseminated throughout the abdominal cavity. In the past decade, tremendous efforts have been taken to search for novel biomarkers that will detect EOC at an early stage, which may also serve as new targets for the prevention and control of metastasis. Here, we review recent developments in EOC early detection and targeted therapy, as well as new technologies for the discovery of novel biomarkers. © 2010 Landes Bioscience.