The Ovarian Cancer Institute and Georgia Tech Develop a Procedure to Detect Early-Stage Ovarian Cancer

  • Highly Accurate, First-of-its-Kind Test Identifies Patients with
    Ovarian Cancer at Early Stages
  • Research Recently Published in Nature’s ‘Scientific Reports’
    Outlines Process for Discovery
  • Known as the ‘Silent Killer,’ Ovarian Cancer is a Leading Cause of
    Death Among Gynecologic Cancers

ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Ovarian Cancer Institute, an organization dedicated to ovarian
cancer awareness, prevention and research, in collaboration with the
Georgia Institute of Technology, today announced it has developed a
method to detect ovarian cancer that is highly accurate in patients with
Stage 1 disease. This research study, titled “Highly-accurate
metabolomic detection of early-stage ovarian cancer,” was published in
the Nov. 17 issue of Nature’s online journal “Scientific Reports.”

“By the time ovarian cancer is detected, it’s usually too late,” said
Dr. Benedict Benigno, founder and CEO of the Ovarian Cancer Institute
and director of gynecologic oncology at Northside Hospital in Atlanta.
“Existing screening methods such as pelvic examinations, ultrasounds and
CA-125 blood tests are notoriously unreliable. It was so frustrating to
encounter newly diagnosed patients, who had experienced symptoms for
only a few weeks, in such advanced stages. We are thrilled to provide
women with such a highly accurate test.”

After years of research and testing, researchers at Georgia Tech, in
partnership with the Ovarian Cancer Institute, have developed a method
to accurately and reliably detect ovarian cancer. Using a blood sample,
a mass spectrometer and a distinct computer algorithm, lab technicians
can now detect specific metabolite levels that indicate the presence of
ovarian cancer at any stage. Through their collaboration, these two
institutions have not only created a unique partnership, but they have
also created one of the world’s largest ovarian cancer tissue and serum
banks, which derive from samples originally collected from Benigno’s
operating room at Northside Hospital.

Among cancers specific to women, ovarian cancer is the leading cause of
death in the United States, according to the Ovarian Cancer National
Alliance. More than 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed
annually. Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed in late stages, due to vague
symptoms that mimic gastrointestinal disorders. However, patients have a
greater than 90 percent survival rate if the disease is detected either
in Stage 1 or Stage 2A.

“We are extremely optimistic that our findings will lead to a highly
accurate, non-invasive clinical procedure to detect ovarian cancer very
early in its development,” said John McDonald, Chief Research Officer at
the Ovarian Cancer Institute. “By detecting cancer before symptoms even
manifest, more women will be able to seek treatment before the cancer
spreads. This, in turn, increases survival rates significantly and these
patients can go on to live healthy lives.”

For more information regarding the Ovarian Cancer Institute, please
visit ovariancancerinstitute.org/.
To read more about this research, please go to www.nature.com/articles/srep16351.

About The Ovarian Cancer Institute

The Ovarian Cancer Institute is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to
ovarian cancer research. The work focuses on accurate diagnostics and
improved therapeutics. Creators of a first-of-its-kind, early-stage
ovarian cancer detection test, the Ovarian Cancer Institute aims to
change the future of women suffering from this disease.

Contacts

Method Communications
Ashlyn Hewlett, 801-461-9772
ashlyn@methodcommunications.com

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