N-linked glycan structures and their expressions change in the blood sera of ovarian cancer patients.

Glycosylated proteins play important roles in a broad spectrum of biochemical and biological processes, and prior reports have suggested that changes in protein glycosylation occur during cancer initiation and progression. Ovarian cancer (OC) is a fatal malignancy, most commonly diagnosed after the development of metastases. Therefore, early detection of OC is key to improving survival.

Imatinib mesylate in combination with docetaxel for the treatment of patients with advanced, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and primary peritoneal carcinomatosis : a Hoosier Oncology Group trial.

Background: Ovarian tumors frequently express c-Kit and/or platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs). Imatinib mesylate blocks the growth of ovarian cancer cells in vitro and may enhance the activity of chemotherapy. This study was conducted to determine the activity of imatinib in combination with docetaxel in patients with recurrent, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

PDGF BB induces VEGF secretion in ovarian cancer.

We identified the platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) as a potential target in epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). This led us to test whether inhibition of the PDGFR affects ovarian cancer cell proliferation and survival and regulates other processes critical to tumor growth and metastasis. We postulated that there is a correlation between the PDGF-PDGFR axis and the secretion of VEGF in EOC.