title: Kallikrein family proteases KLK6 and KLK7 are potential early detection and diagnostic biomarkers for serous and papillary serous ovarian cancer subtypes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early detection of ovarian cancer remains a challenge due to widespread metastases and a lack of biomarkers for early-stage disease. This study was conducted to identify relevant biomarkers for both laparoscopic and serum diagnostics in ovarian cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bioinformatics analysis and expression screening in ovarian cancer cell lines were employed. Selected biomarkers were further validated in bio-specimens of diverse cancer types and ovarian cancer subtypes. For non-invasive detection, biomarker proteins were evaluated in serum samples from ovarian cancer patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two kallikrein (KLK) serine protease family members (KLK6 and KLK7) were found to be significantly overexpressed relative to normal controls in most of the ovarian cancer cell lines examined. Overexpression of KLK6 and KLK7 mRNA was specific to ovarian cancer, in particular to serous and papillary serous subtypes. In situ hybridization and histopathology further confirmed significantly elevated levels of KLK6 and KLK7 mRNA and proteins in tissue epithelium and a lack of expression in neighboring stroma. Lastly, KLK6 and KLK7 protein levels were significantly elevated in serum samples from serous and papillary serous subtypes in the early stages of ovarian cancer, and therefore could potentially decrease the high "false negative" rates found in the same patients with the common ovarian cancer biomarkers human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) and cancer antigen 125 (CA-125).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KLK6 and KLK7 mRNA and protein overexpression is directly associated with early-stage ovarian tumors and can be measured in patient tissue and serum samples. Assays based on KLK6 and KLK7 expression may provide specific and sensitive information for early detection of ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: The Genomics and Biomarkers Program, The John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, D. Jurist Research Building, 40 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA. ATamir@HackensackUMC.org.
authors.forename: Ayala
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamir
authors.affiliation: The Genomics and Biomarkers Program, The John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, D. Jurist Research Building, 40 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA. Ujag@humed.com.
authors.forename: Ushma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jag
authors.affiliation: The Genomics and Biomarkers Program, The John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, D. Jurist Research Building, 40 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA. SSarojini@HackensackUMC.org.
authors.forename: Sreeja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarojini
authors.affiliation: The Genomics and Biomarkers Program, The John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, D. Jurist Research Building, 40 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA. CSchindewolf@HackensackUMC.org.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schindewolf
authors.affiliation: Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA. takemi.tanaka@ouhsc.edu.
authors.forename: Takemi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: The Genomics and Biomarkers Program, The John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, D. Jurist Research Building, 40 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA. RGharbaran@HackensackUMC.org.
authors.forename: Rajendra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gharbaran
authors.affiliation: The Genomics and Biomarkers Program, The John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, D. Jurist Research Building, 40 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA. HPatel@humed.com.
authors.forename: Hiren
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Departments of Gynecologic Oncology and Cancer Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. asood@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sood
authors.affiliation: Departments of Gynecologic Oncology and Cancer Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. whu@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: The Genomics and Biomarkers Program, The John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, D. Jurist Research Building, 40 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA. RPatwa@humed.com.
authors.forename: Ruzeen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patwa
authors.affiliation: Sophic Systems Alliance, Inc, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA. pat@sophicalliance.com.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.affiliation: The Genomics and Biomarkers Program, The John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, D. Jurist Research Building, 40 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA. Pchirina@HackensackUMC.org.
authors.forename: Polina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chirina
authors.affiliation: The Genomics and Biomarkers Program, The John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, D. Jurist Research Building, 40 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA. pokey0099@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oh Jeong
authors.affiliation: The Genomics and Biomarkers Program, The John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, D. Jurist Research Building, 40 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA. Heejinlim223@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Heejin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: The Genomics and Biomarkers Program, The John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, D. Jurist Research Building, 40 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA. AGoy@HackensackUMC.org.
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goy
authors.affiliation: The Genomics and Biomarkers Program, The John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, D. Jurist Research Building, 40 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA. APecora@HackensackUMC.org.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pecora
authors.affiliation: The Genomics and Biomarkers Program, The John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, D. Jurist Research Building, 40 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ, 07601, USA. KSuh@HackensackUMC.org.
authors.forename: K Stephen
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Suh
mesh_terms: D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018297:Neoplasms, Cystic, Mucinous, and Serous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C103551:KLK6 protein, human; C082472:KLK7 protein, human; D007610:Kallikreins