Analysis of molecular aberrations in ovarian cancer allows novel target identification.
The completion of the Human Genome Project and recent advances in functional genomic, proteomic, and high-throughput screening methodologies have provided powerful tools for determining the mechanisms of human diseases, including complex polygenic diseases such as ovarian cancer. These developments may eventually lead to individualized molecular medicine, which is the treatment of patients based on the underlying genetic defects in their tumours and their own genetic makeup. A plethora of novel therapeutic agents that act on specific molecular targets defined by cancer genetics are under development. There is thus a great deal of interest in determining how specific genes and proteins function in cancers, in order to further the understanding of cancer initiation and progression; to aid in identifying biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and determinants of drug responsiveness; and to progress the development of novel antitumour agents.
Cheng
Kwai Wa
KW
Department of Molecular Therapeutics,The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Lahad
John P
JP
Mills
Gordon B
GB
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D015195:Drug Design; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D009154:Mutation; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D040901:Proteomics
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents