1. There is no consistently reliable, accurate screening test to detect ovarian cancer. For women known to be at a high risk for ovarian cancer, doctors use the blood test CA-125, as well as a pelvic exam and transvaginal ultrasound, to detect cancer. But the CA-125 test, though somewhat good at detecting recurrences of cancer, is not good enough by itself to screen the general population. Be mindful of blood clots (particularly if on estrogen replacement therapy). Certain cancers like ovarian can increase levels of substances that help blood clot.

One of the most promising new approaches that may deal with early detection of cancer is called Proteomics (Protein Expression Analysis), the study of proteins in the cells, tissues and body fluids. Even before a tumor can be felt, some researchers have found, the tumor begins secreting a distinctive pattern, or fingerprint of proteins. Here, you go beyond genes (DNA, the Genomic Analysis or structure of the human genome) and beyond Gene Expression (the measure of RNA content, like Her2/neu in breast cancer) to measure the actual proteins themselves.

Posted at 12:45PM on Jun 14th 2007 by Gregory D. Pawelski

2. Proteomics is trying but still unable to be useful to cancer patients.

Posted at 1:56PM on Jun 14th 2007 by mamapony

3. Some scientists like to do stuff that they consider to be "cutting edge." There is a whole lot of high tech/cutting edge machinery which has been developed to look at Genomic Analysis (structure of the human genome) and Gene Expression Analysis (measuring RNA content), with Protein Expression Analysis (Proteonomics) and Disease Analysis (CT/PET scanning) moving in that direction. Disease Analysis has major limitations (requiring treating the patient to get data).

Protein Function Analysis (are proteins present, active or inactive) and Cell Function Analysis (cell culture testing) involve pretty old fashioned technologies and maximum "art." It takes a whole lot of hands on work and experience, which is why some scientists have screwed it up in the past (twenty years ago) and people have not been keen to get into it themselves. But it's like anything else relating to bioengineering, with enough time, attention to detail, experience, and effort, it is possible to make progress and to develop something which is useful.

Posted at 12:43AM on Jun 15th 2007 by Gregory D. Pawelski