• If ovarian cancer is detected early there is a very good prognosis for full recovery. Currently, there is no test for early detection of ovarian cancer.
• PXL has patented several protein and carbohydrate candidate markers for the development of an ovarian cancer diagnostic test.
• Melbourne-based PHIMR has previously developed a test to detect ovarian cancer in post-menopausal woman, a significant sector of the target population.

Of all the gynaecologic cancers, ovarian malignancies represent the greatest clinical challenge. Around 1 in 56 women will develop ovarian cancer during their lifetime. Due to the absence of clear symptoms, ovarian cancer is usually detected when it has already spread beyond the ovary. At this relatively late stage the 5 year survival rate has decreased to ~30% while if the cancer is detected when confined to the ovary, the corresponding 5-year survival rate is >85%. This has led to the need to develop markers that can detect ovarian cancer at this early stage.

Proteome Systems has discovered and patented novel markers for epithelial ovarian cancer using its proprietary proteomic and glycoproteomic technology platforms. The company is actively seeking partnerships with academic and clinical groups with expertise in ovarian cancer to further expand its portfolio of ovarian cancer markers and clinically evaluate these for the development of a diagnostic test.

Associate Professor David Robertson leads the team at PHIMR that has previously developed a test to diagnose ovarian cancer (Robertson et al., 2002; Robertson and Oehler, 2005). The test is useful for initial diagnosis and monitoring recurrence of the disease in post-menopausal women, but i
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Contact: Jenny Harry
61-2-8877-8947
Research Australia
12-Oct-2005