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| The researchers seen in the Genomic laboratory |
Using the latest techniques and taking a new approach involving studying a smaller sample and deeper analysis of the genetic abnormalities of the metastasized lesions, Dr Jeremie Arash Rafii Tabrizi and Dr Joel Malek found clear differences between the genetic expression of the primary ovarian cancer and the metastasized lesions.
Metastasis is the spread of a disease from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part.
This indicates that when treating ovarian cancer with modern medication, consideration needs to be given to how metastasized lesions respond and that may include tailoring the treatment based on combined biology of the primary ovarian cancer and metastatic lesions.
Both researchers have been working closely with institutions in France, Singapore, Canada and the US to produce the report.
The study has been published in PLoS ONE, the peer reviewed journal produced by the Public Library of Science.
Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common malignant cancer in women and the leading cause of death from gynaecological cancer in the world.
The poor overall survival rate of 20 to 30% at five years is due to the large tumour burden with extensive metastatic lesions of the peritoneal cavity.
In other words, the disease often goes undetected until it has spread to other parts of the abdomen, becomes metastasized, and the aggressive form of secondary cancer is often what causes death.
“Our findings are significant and important because most patients are diagnosed at the advanced stage of the disease. This means there are metastasized lesions present in the abdomen and by studying patients whose primary ovarian cancer is very similar, we have shown that the metastasized lesions, often the most dangerous part of the disease, are different. This means they may respond differently, possibly better, to a different cancer drug,” Dr Tabrizi explained.
“Past research has focused on the primary cancer, often looking at the genomics of hundreds of tumours. Our approach is different because we decided to focus our research on the metastasis biology rather than only on the primary tumor,” he added.
Tabrizi is assistant professor of Genetic Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Malek is Genomics Laboratory director and Genetic Medicine instructor at WCMC-Q.
