Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the second major lethal gynecologic malignancy in developing countries. This study aimed to characterize urinary micro-peptides as potential diagnostic biomarkers for ovarian cancer. In a prospective, longitudinal and case-controlled study and following informed consent, urine and plasma samples were collected from 112 women with histologically-proven ovarian cancer and 200 apparently healthy age-matched volunteers. Urinary micro-peptides were detected and sequenced using SDS-PAGE and Edman degradation technique. Serum CA125 was detected in less than a quarter (23.2%, 26/112) of patients. One or more urinary micro-peptides were detected in about two thirds of the patients (62.5%, 70/112). A total of 40 patients had three bands (57.1%, 40/70), while two bands (15 and 35 kDa) were detected in 28.6% (20/70) of the patients. Isolated 45 kDa band was seen in 14.3% (10/70). No urinary micro-peptide was detected in the volunteers. The 15 and 35 kDa bands disappeared after 6 months of regular chemotherapy, while the 45 kDa band persisted in 2.9% (2/70) of the patients after treatment. The micro-peptides were identified as: Catalase (45 kDa), α-1 Acid Glycoprotein (35 kDa) and Peroxiredoxin-2 (15 kDa). Urinary catalase, α-1 Acid Glycoprotein and Peroxiredoxin-2 can be useful biomarkers for early detection and treatment response of ovarian cancer.
Highlights
Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer and the most common cause of mortality from gynecological cancers worldwide
Sudan showed that ovarian cancer constitutes 6.8% of all recorded cancer, ranking as the sixth most common cancer for both sexes [1,2]
This study aimed to identify and characterize candidate urinary micro-peptides as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer
Summary
Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer and the most common cause of mortality from gynecological cancers worldwide In developing countries, it ranks the second most common gynecological cancer and constitutes the fourth most common cancer in women. Ovarian cancer at its early stages (I/II) is difficult to diagnose until it spreads and advances to later stages (III/IV). This is because presenting symptoms are non-specific and are of limited discriminatory diagnostic value. In some countries such as the UK, women who are likely to have an increased risk of ovarian cancer (family history of the disease) can be offered individual screening, this will not necessarily detect the disease at an early stage [3,4,5]. This study aimed to identify and characterize candidate urinary micro-peptides as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer
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