title: The utility of proteomics in gynecologic cancers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  For more than a decade, proteomic techniques have been used to unravel the nature and function of human proteins. In 2002 it came to the attention of clinicians that this technique could be used to discover new biomarkers. However, the first reports were hampered by technical and methodological flaws. Since these first reports, proteomics has matured and the technical abilities have grown enormously. An in-depth analysis of fluid or tissue specimens is now possible. We reviewed recent literature to see whether proteomics has changed our clinical practice in the diagnosis and treatment of gynecological cancers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In ovarian cancer a great effort has been put into discovering new diagnostic and screening markers. Several proteins have been put forward as possible candidates to fulfill this task. However, none of the proteins turned out to be better than CA125 alone. In endometrial cancer many of the presumed tumor markers are not specific for endometrial cancer but are more tumor markers for cancer in general. The same problem was noticed in cervical cancer. Papers are now focusing more on therapy response and carcinogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To date, proteomic studies have not been able to change our clinical practice in gynecological oncology.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynaecological Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Herestraat, Leuven, Belgium. toon.van.gorp@mumc.nl
authors.forename: Toon
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Gorp
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cadron
authors.forename: Ignace
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vergote
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; C451759:MUC16 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins