What are biomarkers and how are they affecting diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer?
A biomarker is a biochemical feature, usually a protein in a biological fluid (blood, serum, urine, saliva) that can be used to measure the progress of disease or the effects of treatment. There are two FDA-approved biomarker tests (both blood tests) for ovarian cancer: CA125 and HE4. Both are approved for assessing the response to initial chemotherapy following diagnosis. CA125, discovered at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Womens Cancer Center, is the most studied and widely used ovarian cancer biomarker. Although it plays a major role in monitoring patients, CA125 alone is not good for early detection because it can be triggered by numerous benign conditions. Ongoing studies are trying to address the use of HE4 as a new tool to help doctors determine the most appropriate course of care for women with a pelvic mass, and as a biomarker for early detection of the cancer.
