Bertis, a proteomics-based precision medicine technology development company (CEOs Dong-young Noh, Seung-man Han), announced on the 5th that the research results of their search for protein biomarkers for early diagnosis of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) were published in the September issue of the international scientific journal, Journal of Proteome Research.
Ovarian cancer is the first leading cause of death among gynecological cancers. Most patients are asymptomatic in early stages, and as effective early diagnosis methods have not yet been secured, 70% of the cases are not detected until the cancer develops into stage 3 or higher. After stage 3, the survival rate of the patient is drastically reduced. The 5-year survival rate is more than 76% in stage 1 and approximately 60% to 74% in stage 2, while the 5-year survival rate in early stage 3 is known to be 41%, 23% in late stage 3, and just 11% in stage 4. In particular, HGSOC is the most common type of ovarian cancer, accounting for 70% of all ovarian cancers. For decades, the overall survival rate of HGSOC has barely improved, and the need for the introduction of a standard testing method for early diagnosis has been emphasized.
The research team at Bertis presented a new multi-biomarker panel candidate with 95% accuracy (100% sensitivity, 91% specificity) for the diagnosis of stage 1 to 3 HGSOC. The results of this research were published in the September issue of the Journal of Proteome Research on the 2nd by the American Chemical Society. In particular, the results were included as one of the supplementary cover articles in this issue with 16 papers listed.
In this study, the research team identified 18 candidate proteins after quantifying 1,847 serum proteins, the highest number ever reported as ovarian cancer biomarker research results, through Bertis’ technology platform to discover biomarker candidates. As a result of developing and evaluating a predictive model, the accuracy of the diagnostic value for stages 1 to 37 HGSOC was 95% (sensitivity 100%, specificity 91%) when 18 candidate proteins were combined with multiple biomarkers.
Un-beom Kang, Head of Bertis Biomarker Research Institute, who led this study, explained, “This study is significant in that it secured the results of in-depth blood proteome research based on Bertis’ advanced proteomics analysis technology, as well as presented a new biomarker panel with high accuracy for ovarian cancer,” and added that, “We expect that based on data from this study, research and development to provide standardized testing for early diagnosis of ovarian cancer will be expedited and the creation of results will be accelerated.”
“Proteomics analysis is an incredibly effective tool for understanding cancer and discovering new biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis,” said, Seung-man Han, Bertis’ CEO. “As a company that has led the discovery of biomarkers based on proteomics technology as well as the development of clinical solutions using it, we will do our best to contribute to the improvement of the diagnosis and treatment of major diseases through continuous research and development.”
Bertis is a company that combines proteomics and bioinformatics to develop biomarkers for cancer and other various major diseases, as well as provides diagnosis and analysis solutions. It succeeded in commercializing proteomics technology with Mastocheck, the world’s first proteomics-based blood testing solution for early breast cancer diagnosis, and PASS (Pan-omics Analysis Service & Solution), an integrated analysis solution for Panomics. Currently, Bertis is researching and developing early diagnosis solutions for pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, etc.