Ovarian cancer biomarker detection through ovarian blood sampling
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to a biological marker of ovarian cancer, including early stage ovarian cancer. Specifically, the present invention provides methods for detecting ovarian cancer in a subject which include detecting an expression level of the biological marker junction plakoglobin in blood of the subject. An expression level of junction plakoglobin that is higher than a reference expression level for junction plakoglobin indicates that the subject has ovarian cancer. Methods of identifying a subject having ovarian cancer and methods of determining if a subject is susceptible to developing ovarian cancer are also provided based on detecting the expression level of junction plakoglobin in blood of the subject. The present invention also extends to methods of treatment of ovarian cancer together with methods of screening a candidate therapeutic agent for use in treating ovarian cancer. Furthermore, compositions and kits for detecting ovarian cancer in a subject are provided, as well as a method of identifying a biomarker for a cancer, including ovarian cancer.
1 . A method of detecting and treating ovarian cancer in a subject or identifying and treating a subject having ovarian cancer, the method comprising:
(a) detecting an expression level of junction plakoglobin in blood of the subject;
(b) comparing the expression level of junction plakoglobin in the blood of the subject with a reference expression level for junction plakoglobin, wherein the reference expression level is an expression level for junction plakoglobin in a normal subject or in a subject not having ovarian cancer;
(c) detecting ovarian cancer in the subject or identifying the subject as a subject having ovarian cancer on the basis of the comparison,
wherein an expression level of junction plakoglobin in the blood of the subject that is higher than the reference expression level for junction plakoglobin indicates that the subject has ovarian cancer; and
(d) treating the subject in which ovarian cancer has been detected or which has been identified as having ovarian cancer,
wherein treating the subject comprises one or more of removal of one or both ovaries of the subject, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is conducted in vitro in a blood sample obtained from the subject.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the blood sample is a serum sample or plasma sample obtained from peripheral blood of the subject.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the expression level of junction plakoglobin protein is detected using an antibody specific for the junction plakoglobin protein.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ovarian cancer is ovarian epithelial carcinoma, serous ovarian carcinoma, endometrioid ovarian carcinoma, mucinous ovarian carcinoma, or clear cell ovarian carcinoma.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ovarian cancer is early stage ovarian cancer, including Stage I ovarian cancer.
7 . A method of treating ovarian cancer in a subject, comprising:
(a) identifying the subject as a subject with ovarian cancer on the basis that an expression level of junction plakoglobin in blood of the subject is higher than a reference expression level for junction plakoglobin, wherein the reference expression level is an expression level for junction plakoglobin in a normal subject or in a subject not having ovarian cancer; and
(b) treating ovarian cancer in the subject,
wherein treating ovarian cancer in the subject comprises one or more of removal of one or both ovaries of the subject, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the expression level of junction plakoglobin has been detected in a blood sample obtained from the subject, including a serum sample or a plasma sample, obtained from peripheral blood of the subject.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the expression level of junction plakoglobin protein has been detected using an antibody specific for the junction plakoglobin protein.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the ovarian cancer is ovarian epithelial carcinoma, serous ovarian carcinoma, endometrioid ovarian carcinoma, mucinous ovarian carcinoma, or clear cell ovarian carcinoma.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the ovarian cancer is early stage ovarian cancer, including Stage I ovarian cancer.
12 . A method of treating ovarian cancer in a subject, comprising:
(a) detecting an expression level of junction plakoglobin in blood of the subject;
(b) comparing the expression level of junction plakoglobin in the blood of the subject with a reference expression level for junction plakoglobin, wherein the reference expression level is an expression level for junction plakoglobin in a normal subject or in a subject not having ovarian cancer;
(c) detecting ovarian cancer in the subject on the basis of the comparison,
wherein an expression level of junction plakoglobin in the blood of the subject that is higher than the reference expression level for junction plakoglobin is indicative of ovarian cancer in the subject; and
(d) treating ovarian cancer in the subject,
wherein treating ovarian cancer in the subject comprises one or more of removal of one or both ovaries of the subject, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the expression level of junction plakoglobin is detected in a blood sample obtained from the subject, including a serum sample or a plasma sample obtained from peripheral blood of the subject.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the expression level of junction plakoglobin protein is detected using an antibody specific for the junction plakoglobin protein.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the ovarian cancer is ovarian epithelial carcinoma, serous ovarian carcinoma, endometrioid ovarian carcinoma, mucinous ovarian carcinoma, or clear cell ovarian carcinoma.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the ovarian cancer is early stage ovarian cancer, including Stage I ovarian cancer.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the expression level of junction plakoglobin in blood of the subject is at least about 1.7-fold higher than the reference expression level for junction plakoglobin.
18 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the expression level of junction plakoglobin in blood of the subject is at least about 1.7-fold higher than the reference expression level for junction plakoglobin.
19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the expression level of junction plakoglobin in blood of the subject is at least about 1.7-fold higher than the reference expression level for junction plakoglobin.