Tumor markers for early detection of ovarian cancer.

The overall mortality rate for ovarian cancer is 75%, but when diagnosed at stage I, 90% of patients can be cured. Strategies for early detection require high sensitivity (>75%) and extremely high specificity (99.6%) to attain a positive predictive value of at least 10%. When functioning alone, conventional markers fall short of this required sensitivity or specificity. Greater specificity can be achieved by combining multiple markers. Meanwhile, technological developments offer the potential identification of new candidate markers. Panels of new markers have been discovered with improved sensitivity and specificity for early-stage detection, but these require prospective validation. Through empirical development of: biotechnology (including monoclonal antibodies, gene expression, cloning of gene families and proteomics); statistical methods; and guidelines from specialized institutions, more candidate markers might be discovered and validated with systematic, efficient and cost-effective screenings.