Ovarian Cancer

QIAGEN provides a broad range of assay technologies for ovarian cancer research that enable analysis of gene expression and regulation, epigenetic modification, and signal transduction pathway activation. Solutions optimized for ovarian cancer studies include PCR array, miRNA, siRNA, pathway reporter, chromatin IP, DNA methylation, and protein expression products.

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer in women, and has the highest mortality rate of all gynecological cancers. This deadly cancer results in few symptoms, and is often only discovered at a late stage of progression. Ninety percent of ovarian tumors occur in the ovary epithelium. Epithelial ovarian cancers are divided histologically into 4 classes: serous (the most common), endometrioid, mucinous, and clear cell. Each subtype includes distinct gene mutations; however, the molecular mechanisms resulting in the oncogenic progression of each subtype are unclear and under investigation. Ovarian cancer is very aggressive, and often resistant to chemotherapy. Additional research is necessary to identify novel drug targets or other therapeutic options to this deadly disease.