UAMS research group leads breakthrough in ovarian cancer treatment – Talk Business & Politics

The Birrer Laboratory at UAMS Discovers Proteogenomic Signature in Ovarian Cancer

The Birrer Laboratory at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute has made a significant discovery in the field of ovarian cancer research. Their findings, published in the journal Cell on August 3, reveal a proteogenomic signature that has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of this disease worldwide.

Identifying Treatment Resistance in Ovarian Cancer

The research conducted by the Birrer Laboratory has identified a 64-protein-gene signature that can predict primary treatment resistance in patients with high-grade ovarian cancer. This breakthrough has the potential to improve patient outcomes and guide treatment decisions.

Contributions of the Birrer Laboratory

Dr. Michael Birrer, director of the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and UAMS vice chancellor, played a crucial role in this study as a senior author. His laboratory is dedicated to translating genomic research into better treatment strategies for ovarian cancer. The Birrer Lab was instrumental in designing, implementing, analyzing, and interpreting the results of the study. They also ensured that the project had sufficient clinically annotated patient specimens for state-of-the-art proteomic/genomic analysis.

The team examined 242 high-grade serous ovarian cancers and characterized the proteins and genetic markers in these tumors. By studying patients who either responded or did not respond to treatment, they were able to identify key factors that contribute to treatment resistance.

Improving Patient Outcomes

Ovarian cancer is a challenging disease, and the prognosis for women with high-grade tumors is often poor. While the median survival rate has improved to five years, patients with refractory tumors, which do not respond to initial therapy, continue to face limited treatment options. This study represents a significant step forward in identifying these patients upfront and making better treatment recommendations.

Dr. Birrer explains, “For the first time, we will know if a patient is unlikely to get better with standard treatment and make better recommendations for them to immediately explore other options like new therapeutics in clinical trials.”

Targeting Refractory Tumors

The study also identified five subgroups of refractory tumors based on specific activated pathways. This finding opens up the possibility of developing targeted therapies for these subgroups, potentially improving outcomes for patients with treatment-resistant ovarian cancer.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Sustainable Development Goal: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
• Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease.

The article discusses the discovery of a proteogenomic signature in ovarian cancer that may improve the way the disease is treated. This is directly related to the goal of promoting good health and well-being. Ovarian cancer is a non-communicable disease, and finding a signature that can predict primary treatment resistance can help improve treatment outcomes and reduce premature mortality from this disease.

2. Sustainable Development Goal: Gender Equality

• Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.
• Indicator 5.6.1: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care.

While not explicitly mentioned in the article, ovarian cancer primarily affects women. The discovery of a proteogenomic signature that can improve treatment outcomes for ovarian cancer patients contributes to ensuring universal access to reproductive health and reproductive rights for women.

3. Sustainable Development Goal: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.
• Indicator 9.5.1: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP.

The article highlights the role of the Birrer Laboratory at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in the discovery of the proteogenomic signature in ovarian cancer. This laboratory is dedicated to the translation of genomics into better treatment for ovarian cancer. Their research and development efforts contribute to enhancing scientific research and innovation in the field of cancer treatment.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: talkbusiness.net

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