title: Emerging diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers for ovarian cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In spite of various treatment options currently available, ovarian cancer (OC) still remains a leading cause of death in women world-wide. Diagnosis at an early stage is one of the most important factors that determines survival. Current clinical diagnostic tools have, however, a limited efficacy in early OC detection. Therefore, there is a critical need for new (early) diagnostic biomarkers and tools. Through advances in genomic, proteomic and metabolomic techniques, several novel molecular OC biomarkers have recently been identified. These biomarkers are currently subject to validation. In addition, integration of genomic, proteomic and metabolomic data, in conjunction with epidemiologic and clinical data, is considered essential for obtaining useful results. Interesting recent work has already shown that specific diagnostic biomarkers, such as BRCA mutations, may have profound therapeutic implications. Here, we review the current state of OC research through literature and database searches, with a focus on various recently identified biomarkers via different technologies for the (early) diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of OC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multi-biomarker panels accompanied by a meticulous determination of their sensitivity and specificity, as well their validation, using multivariate analyses will be critical for its clinical application, including early OC detection and tailor-made OC treatment.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Oujda, Morocco. k.elbairi@ump.ac.ma.|Independent Research Team in Cancer Biology and Bioactive Compounds, Mohammed 1st University, Oujda, Morocco. k.elbairi@ump.ac.ma.
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: El Bairi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Healthcare Molecular and Diagnostic Laboratory, Hyderabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Abdul Hafeez
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kandhro
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Annaba, Algeria.
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gouri
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biology and Health, URAC-34, Faculty of Science Ben Msik, University Hassan II, Mohammedia, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: Wafaa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mahfoud
authors.affiliation: Labomac IVF Centers and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: Noureddine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Louanjli
authors.affiliation: IVF center IRIFIV, Clinique des Iris, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: Brahim
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saadani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Mohamed 1st University Hospital, Oujda, Morocco.
authors.forename: Said
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Afqir
authors.affiliation: Equipe de Recherche ONCOGYMA, Faculty of Medicine, Pathology Department, National Institute of Oncology, Université Mohamed V, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Mariam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amrani
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Biomarkers; Circulating tumor cells; Diagnosis; Epigenetics; Ovarian cancer; Prognosis