New Blood-Based RNA Test Detects Precancerous Ovarian Lesions With High Accuracy
A new blood-based RNA biomarker accurately identifies microscopic precancerous ovarian lesions that conventional screening methods miss, according to a study published in Nature Medicine.
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Key Clinical Takeaways:
- The long non-coding RNA marker, known as Tu-stroma, distinguished early precancerous lesions from healthy tissue with an area under the curve of 0.99 in a study of 506 individuals.
- Traditional biomarker CA125 achieved an area under the curve of just 0.59 for the same microscopic precursor stage known as serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma.
- Researchers found that cancer cells release extracellular vesicles carrying Tu-stroma RNA to weaken neighboring healthy cells before a solid tumor forms.
Published in Nature Medicine, the study evaluated serum extracellular vesicles from 506 individuals. The cohort included 43 patients with isolated serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma, 232 with high-grade serous carcinoma, 143 healthy controls, and 88 individuals with benign adnexal masses, according to insideprecisionmedicine.com reporting. Against benign masses, Tu-stroma maintained an area under the curve of 0.99, while CA125 registered 0.31.
High-grade serous carcinoma accounts for the most lethal forms of ovarian cancer and frequently originates in the fallopian tubes. These microscopic precursor lesions, or STICs, can precede invasive cancer by six to seven years. They are generally invisible on standard imaging and surface only during pathological examination after surgical removal.
Traditional tests detect proteins shed by established tumors. Tu-stroma captures active molecular signaling that occurs before a tumor develops. Rajan Gogna, director of translational research at Hoag, explained this process to insideprecisionmedicine.com.
Most people imagine a cancer blood test as something that detects substances released by a growing tumor. But what if we could detect the molecular messages cancer sends to prepare the surrounding tissue for its arrival and expansion, before a substantial tumour has even formed?
Research indicates that ovarian cancer cells release extracellular vesicles carrying Tu-stroma RNA into neighboring healthy cells. This RNA alters cellular fitness through a signaling mechanism called Flower-Win/Lose, allowing cancer cells to secure space and resources within the tissue microenvironment.
While the biomarker shows high statistical accuracy in identifying established STIC lesions, researchers note limits in current timing data. Rajan Gogna told insideprecisionmedicine.com regarding the discovery, Our present study demonstrated that Tu-stroma is already detectable at the microscopic, non-invasive STIC stage. But we do not yet know exactly when that signal first appears.
More than 320,000 women receive an ovarian cancer diagnosis globally each year, with fatalities exceeding 207,000. Large randomized trials utilizing CA125 and transvaginal ultrasound have historically failed to demonstrate a reduction in mortality from the disease.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.