Ovarian cancer kills approximately 15,000 women in the United States every year, and more than 140,000 women worldwide. Most deaths from ovarian cancer are caused by tumors of the serous histological type, which are rarely diagnosed before the cancer has spread. In order to better understand the early natural history and to guide rational design of an early detection strategy for these cancers, Patrick Brown and colleagues from Stanford University developed models for the growth, progression, and detection of these cancers, in order to define what properties a biomarker-based screening test would require in order to be clinically useful.
Funding: This work was funded by the Canary Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Citation: Brown PO, Palmer C (2009) The Preclinical Natural History of Serous Ovarian Cancer: Defining the Target for Early Detection. PLoS Med 6(7): e1000114. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000114
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CONTACTS:
Dr. Patrick O. Brown
Stanford University
Biochemistry
279 Campus Dr B400
Stanford, CA 94305
United States of America
650-723-0005
650-725-7811 (fax)
pbrown@stanford.edu
Kirsta Conger
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Stanford University Medical Center
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kristac@stanford.edu
PLOS Medicine