Alliance for Ovarian Cancer Research

A research collaboration to accelerate the development of new diagnostic tools to identify ovarian cancer has been announced by Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. (Fremont, CA, USA) and the University of Kentucky (Louisville, USA). Under the terms of the agreement, Ciphergen will have exclusive rights to license discoveries made that are part of the university's own ongoing research in ovarian cancer.

Ciphergen is to provide researchers at the University of Kentucky with its suite of proteomic solutions: Deep Proteome, Pattern Track Process, and ProteinChip. These are designed for biomarker discovery and the development of assays to analyze clinical samples collected by University of Kentucky Healthcare. The researchers will analyze patients' tumor cyst fluid and blood, looking for specific proteins to differentiate malignant from benign ovarian conditions.

"Medical management is entirely different for an ovarian tumor of low or no malignant potential versus one that is overtly malignant,” explained Dr. Fred Ueland, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the university. "With Ciphergen, we hope to accelerate the development of a new diagnostic approach to ovarian cancer by combining their biomarker discover and diagnostic process with our clinical experience.”

Gail Page, president and CEO of Ciphergen, observed, "The University of Kentucky is a major referral center for the treatment of gynecological malignancies. We are very pleased to be collaborating in our mutual goal to develop novel diagnostics in the field of ovarian cancer.”




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