Application of proteomics in ovarian cancer: which sample should be used?
OBJECTIVE
In the last decade several studies have been published using proteomics to unravel molecular pathways and to find biomarkers which can be used for diagnosis and/or prognostication in ovarian cancer. This review gives an overview of proteomic studies performed in ovarian cancer focusing on the nature of samples that have been used.


METHODS
Recent literature regarding the role of proteomic studies in ovarian cancer has been reviewed.


RESULTS
Most studies have focused on finding biomarkers for early diagnosis of ovarian cancer using blood samples though proteins identified until now are mainly acute phase reactants. Studies regarding platinum sensitivity have only been performed on cell culture models and need confirmation in tissue samples. Proteomic studies using ovarian cancer tissue are sparse and mostly contain a low number of samples.


CONCLUSIONS
To date no biomarkers for early diagnosis or prognostication in ovarian cancer have been found using proteomics. We speculate that it would be interesting to investigate the tissue proteome in an attempt to overcome acute phase reactants and to facilitate the discovery of real tumor-specific biomarkers instead of the identification of secondary protein changes.
Cadron
Isabelle
I
Division of Gynecological Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Isabelle.Cadron@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
Van Gorp
Toon
T
Timmerman
Dirk
D
Amant
Frederic
F
Waelkens
Etienne
E
Vergote
Ignace
I
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor