Because ovarian cancer is highly metastatic, and characterized by a tendency to relapse and continuous remission, it is one of the common causes of cancer-related death in women worldwide. Alfa Cytology is a world leader in the research of gynecologic cancer. With our extensive experience and advanced platform, we can provide the best solutions for ovarian cancer.
Introduction to Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is a cancer that begins in the ovaries, the female reproductive organs responsible for producing eggs and estrogen. Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy and ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women. Approximately 22,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. Ovarian cancer is often referred to as the "silent killer" because early symptoms may not be obvious, leading to cancer being diagnosed at an advanced stage when it has already spread.
Epitope and Target of Ovarian Cancer
The ability of the immune system to distinguish between self and non-self forms the basis of all immunotherapy interventions. Epitopes are necessary for this differentiation process, which continuously monitor protein expression in the cell inside and outside by presenting molecules. Therefore, identifying tumor epitopes and targets for ovarian cancer is critical to the development of precision therapy and immunotherapy. Ovarian cancer epitopes or targets may include the following.
| Targets |
Description |
| CA-125 |
CA-125 is a protein marker that is significantly elevated in the blood of people with ovarian cancer. It is useful to monitor the disease progression stages and response to therapy. |
| HER2/neu |
The HER2/neu protein is overexpressed in some cases of ovarian cancer, making it one of the potential targets for targeted therapies. |
| Immune checkpoint |
Immune checkpoint proteins, such as PD-1 and PD-L1, are also being intensively studied as targets for ovarian cancer immunotherapy to enhance the immune system's ability to recognize and attack cancer cells. |
Therapy Development for Ovarian Cancer
Platinum-based and paclitaxel-based chemotherapy has long been considered the standard first-line agent for OC. Cancer immunotherapy is the fifth pillar of core cancer care after surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiotherapy, and has the opportunity to be integrated into the OC standard of care. OC is a good candidate for immunotherapy because multiple studies have consistently demonstrated a positive association between the increase in CD3 + tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and overall survival.
- PARP Inhibitors: Drugs like olaparib, niraparib, and rucaparib are approved for ovarian cancer, particularly with BRCA mutations.
- Angiogenesis Inhibitors: Bevacizumab, a VEGF inhibitor, is used in combination with chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer to block the formation of new blood vessels that feed the tumor.
Fig.1 Therapeutic interventions targeting signal transduction pathways. (Wang, Q., et al., 2020)
Our Services
Ovarian cancer is a major health problem for women around the world. Therefore, Alfa Cytology is working on providing one-stop solutions for ovarian cancer, including but not limited to the following.
Therapy Development Platforms
| Services |
Description |
| Biomarker discovery |
Identifying novel biomarkers associated with ovarian cancer facilitates early detection, prognosis assessment, and personalized treatment options. |
| Immunotherapy |
Immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapy, are being investigated for their potential to enhance the immune response against ovarian cancer cells. |
| Genetic studies |
Genetic studies help identify genetic mutations and alterations that lead to ovarian cancer growth, guiding the development of targeted and personalized therapy approaches. |
| Preclinical trials |
Preclinical trials play a vital role in evaluating new therapies, combination therapies, and new drugs to treat ovarian cancer. |
Models of Ovarian Cancer
Alfa Cytology is dedicated to supporting the research to unravel the complexities of ovarian cancer. As a leader in innovative biomedical services, we are pleased to offer a comprehensive animal model development service tailored specifically for ovarian cancer studies.
| Services |
Descriptions |
| Animal Model Selection |
We help choose the most suitable animal model for ovarian cancer study based on the research objectives and desired outcomes. Our available models include the following but are not limited to.
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| Animal Model Development |
Our skilled technical team will employ state-of-the-art techniques to develop and validate the chosen animal model for ovarian cancer research.
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| In Vivo Imaging and Monitoring |
To facilitate the assessment and monitoring of tumor growth, metastasis, and response to treatments, we provide advanced in vivo imaging techniques. These include bioluminescence imaging, fluorescence imaging, and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, allowing track tumor progression and evaluate therapeutic efficacy in real-time. |
Alfa Cytology is committed to the research and study of cancer, from cell therapy development services, and immune checkpoint inhibitor development services, to cancer drug development services, providing one-stop solutions. Our cancer experts have many years of experience in the development of the latest therapies for ovarian cancer. If you are interested in our service, please contact us.
Reference
- Wang, Q., et al.; (2020). Targeted therapies in gynecological cancers: A comprehensive review of clinical evidence. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 5(1), 137.
! For research use only.
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