Protein NAC-1 protein is linked to ovarian cancer recurrence

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Researchers have found high levels of a binding protein biomarker in women who have a recurrence of ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at a stage when it is advanced. But treatment may leave women apparently disease-free, even though the cancer then goes on to recur. In a new study, researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center reveal that a biomarker protein called NAC-1 may pinpoint those women with ovarian cancer who are most at risk of recurrence.

They looked at a group of 338 women with ovarian cancer from two hospitals, looking at levels of the NAC-1 biomarker. This showed levels of the biomarker were higher in recurrent tumors compared to primary tumors. And women whose primary tumors had higher levels of NAC-1 were more likely to suffer a recurrence. Clearly NAC-1 may have some value as a biomarker for ovarian cancer recurrence. Experiments on the function of NAC-1 show that a component of the biomarker called N130 can potentially block NAC-1. This opens up the door to a new potential therapy for ovarian cancer based upon the NAC-1 biomarker.

Source
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 5th December 2006