Background

Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, according to the American Cancer Society. Few effective therapies are available and currently there are no reliable tests available to detect ovarian cancer early. There is a critical need to better understand the roles genes may play in detecting and treating ovarian cancer.

A 2021 publication co‑authored by University of Hawaii researchers reports that a high‑throughput data search of lncRNAs (long non‑coding RNAs) associated with ovarian cancer outcomes led to a discovery that high expression of lncRNA TOPORS Antisense RNA1 (TOPORS‑AS1) associated with favorable survival of ovarian cancer patients, compared to low expression. Further in vitro experiments showed over‑expression of TOPORS‑AS1 in ovarian cancer cells suppressed tumor cell proliferation and inhibited their migration, invasion and colony formation. Other notable highlights from this research effort include discovery that TOPORS‑AS1 inhibited the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and vitamin D receptor (VDR) upregulated TOPORS‑AS1 expression.

Technology Overview

Researchers at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center and colleagues at collaborating institutions are investigating biomarkers for prediction of disease outcome and treatment response in relation to clinical and pathological features of breast and ovarian cancers.

Further Details

Details of their discoveries resulting from this work, including new insights and opportunities related to the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of ovarian cancer, have been published in Nature ‑ Scientific Reports (Fu, Y., Katsaros, D., Biglia, N. et al. Vitamin D receptor upregulates ncRNA TOPORS-AS1 which inhibits the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and associates with favorable prognosis of ovarian cancer. Sci Rep 11, 7484 (2021)) and can be viewed here.

Benefits

lncRNA TOPORS‑AS1 expression association with ovarian cancer stage and overall survival prognosis. Early stage ovarian cancer tumors associated with high TOPORS‑AS1, and high expression associated with favorable overall survival and prognosis, compared to low expression.

In vitro TOPORS‑AS1 expression in ovarian cancer cells inhibited tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion and colony formation, demonstrating ovarian tumor suppression‑like activity.

TOPORS‑AS1 observed to suppress ovarian tumor activity by interrupting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and TOPORS‑AS1 expression could help predict ovarian cancer prognosis and treatment strategy.

Applications

Biomarker development
Potential for prognosis indication and treatment strategy for ovarian cancer

Opportunity

R&D collaboration
Commercial development partner

lncRNA TOPORS-AS1 as a Biomarker for Ovarian Cancer Prognosis and Potential Treatment Target

IP Status

Seeking