Epigenetic Biomarkers for Ovarian Cancer Progression

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant) CpG island hypermethylation is a frequent event in late-stage ovarian cancer. At present, molecular information is needed for better stratification of this advanced disease in order to provide treatment options. The objective is therefore to identify this type of epigenetic biomarkers for predicting patients' survival and disease relapse. In a preliminary study, we employed a microarray-based approach, called differential methylation hybridization (DMH), for genome-wide screening in a small panel of stage Ill or lV tumors. Molecular profiling revealed a group of CpG island loci, the hypermethylation of which is significantly associated with shorter durations of progression-free survival in patients (p