NCI Cancer Bulletin Mar 2011: Ovarian Cancer Study Raises Questions about Developing Markers for Early Detection

 IMPORTANT/Blogger's Note:  longterm ovarian cancer survivours and caregivers will recall the historical 'hype' on new early detection tests - caution advised and confirming this as per the NCI Bulletin below (LPA would be one example only)

"During the last decade, Dr. Ransohoff noted, some researchers made strong claims about potential markers for ovarian cancer based on preliminary data. And though the markers did not pan out, these claims were repeated by members of the media, raising false hopes about early detection."



"A long-awaited assessment of potential biomarkers for detecting early ovarian cancer shows that blood levels of the CA-125 protein remain the best predictor of the disease. But if there is to be any hope that screening will reduce deaths from this disease, then more accurate markers would have to be developed, researchers concluded in the March Cancer Prevention Research.         (note: also see blog postings for related abstracts)

None of the 28 potential serum markers tested in the study outperformed CA-125. But for screening, the researchers noted, doctors would need a test that could detect a signal from tumors more than 6 months before diagnosis; CA-125 had its strongest signal within 6 months of diagnosis.

Although the results may seem disappointing, the findings can inform future efforts to detect the disease early, the study authors wrote. This idea was echoed by several biomarker experts who were not involved in the work but who stressed the importance of the findings......."cont'd