improved progression-free survival []. Within chemo-resistant serous EOC ascites specimens, Huang identified significantly up-regulated levels of ceruloplasmin, so et al analysis of ascites may also be able to predict treatment response or help to target treatment []. Autoantibodies Anti-tumour antibodies provide a novel field in diagnostic biomarker research as they allow recognition of tumour antigen at an earlier stage in tumour development because the immune system responds to tumour emergence very early. This enables antigen detection at very low levels, perhaps lower than can be reliably detected by direct protein assay. As well as a potentially useful early diagnostic tool, they may also provide anti-tumour defence. Serum autoantibodies directed against tumour associated antigens have been frequently detected in the sera of patients with different types of cancer []. Antibodies to epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) [], HSP-90 [, ], HOXA7 [], HER2 and MUC1 [, ] have been identified in ovarian cancer. It is difficult to see how some of these autoantibodies will prove useful in early diagnosis of cancer as they are often identified in more than one tumour type, although combinations of antibodies may hold more promise. The search for diagnostic biomarkers, prognostic factors, as well as an explanation as to why patients develop resistance to drug treatment continue to be a major challenge in ovarian cancer. Intensive research has identified several poor prognostic factors but the causes of chemotherapy resistance, the ways of overcoming this problem and factors related to cancer progression remain a major challenge. THE HOMEOBOX GENE SUPERFAMILY
improved progression-free survival []. Within chemo-resistant serous EOC ascites specimens, Huang et al identified significantly up-regulated levels of ceruloplasmin, so analysis of ascites may also be able to predict treatment response or help to target treatment []. Autoantibodies Anti-tumour antibodies provide a novel field in diagnostic biomarker research as they allow recognition of tumour antigen at an earlier stage in tumour development because the immune system responds to tumour emergence very early. This enables antigen detection at very low levels, perhaps lower than can be reliably detected by direct protein assay. As well as a potentially useful early diagnostic tool, they may also provide anti-tumour defence. Serum autoantibodies directed against tumour associated antigens have been frequently detected in the sera of patients with different types of cancer []. Antibodies to epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) [], HSP-90 [, ], HOXA7 [], HER2 and MUC1 [, ] have been identified in ovarian cancer. It is difficult to see how some of these autoantibodies will prove useful in early diagnosis of cancer as they are often identified in more than one tumour type, although combinations of antibodies may hold more promise. The search for diagnostic biomarkers, prognostic factors, as well as an explanation as to why patients develop resistance to drug treatment continue to be a major challenge in ovarian cancer. Intensive research has identified several poor prognostic factors but the causes of chemotherapy resistance, the ways of overcoming this problem and factors related to cancer progression remain a major challenge. THE HOMEOBOX GENE SUPERFAMILY
THESIS%20FINAL%20DRAFT%2008JUNE2015.docx