Method of testing expression of CA125 antigen in cultured ovarian surface epithelial cells to identify and monitor individuals having a predisposition to develop ovarian cancer

摘要

A screening test for identifying individuals having a predisposition to develop ovarian cancer. The test involves measuring the phenotypic expression of the CA125 antigen in overtly normal ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) cells propagated in vitro. The OSE cells are preferably passaged repeatedly prior to measuring for the expression of the CA125 antigen. The test is based on the finding that OSE cells obtained from individuals having a family history of ovarian and/or breast cancer retain sub-populations of CA125 expressing cells for longer time periods in vitro than OSE cells derived from individuals not having a such a family history. The test provides an alternative means of identifying and monitoring women at risk of developing ovarian cancer, including women with hereditary ovarian cancer syndromes and women likely to develop sporadic (non-familial) ovarian cancer.