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  • Review Article
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Gene-expression profiling in epithelial ovarian cancer

Nature Clinical Practice Oncology volume 5, pages 577–587 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

DNA-microarray technology has made it possible to simultaneously analyze the expression of thousands of genes in a small sample of tumor tissue. In epithelial ovarian cancer, gene-expression profiling has been used to provide prognostic information, to predict response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, and to discriminate between different histologic subtypes. Furthermore, DNA-microarray technology might permit identification of novel markers for early detection of disease and provide insights into the mechanisms of cancer growth and chemotherapy resistance. In this Review, we summarize the contributions of gene-expression profiling to the diagnosis and management of epithelial ovarian cancer and discuss ways in which this technique could become a useful tool in clinical management.

Key Points

  • Multigene signatures identified through microarray analysis can predict clinical outcome and response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy in epithelial ovarian cancer

  • DNA-microarray technology has identified several genes that may be implicated in the development of resistance to carboplatin and paclitaxel, but only a few have been validated by functional studies or clinical correlation

  • Novel markers potentially useful for early detection of disease can be identified by gene-expression profiling, although such markers have not yet been clinically validated

  • Molecular profiles that distinguish between various histologic subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancer, as well as borderline (low malignant potential) tumors, have been discovered by gene-expression profiling

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Figure 1: Results of a typical oligonucleotide microarray experiment in epithelial ovarian cancer.
Figure 2: Example of how microarray analysis might someday be integrated into the postoperative management of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.
Figure 3: Selected genes implicated in platinum resistance, as identified by microarray studies.
Figure 4: Contributions of gene-expression profiling to epithelial ovarian cancer research.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by LeAnn's Project, by the Bernice Shopkin Weisman Fund, and by the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund in memory of Amy Sachs Simon. This work was also supported by NIH Ovarian Cancer SPORE Grant CA105009.

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  1. PA Konstantinopoulos is a Hematology/Oncology Fellow, D Spentzos is a Medical Oncologist and an Instructor of Medicine, and SA Cannistra is Professor of Medicine and Director of Gynecologic Medical Oncology, all at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,

    Panagiotis A Konstantinopoulos, Dimitrios Spentzos & Stephen A Cannistra

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  1. Panagiotis A Konstantinopoulos
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Correspondence to Panagiotis A Konstantinopoulos.

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Konstantinopoulos, P., Spentzos, D. & Cannistra, S. Gene-expression profiling in epithelial ovarian cancer. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 5, 577–587 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncponc1178

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