Grant: Proof of Principle Program - Phase I

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological cancer and survival rates have not significantly improved for over 30 years. Recently, researchers have recognized that ovarian cancer is a series of different subtypes that have distinct genetic changes, responses to treatment, and outcomes. It follows that these subtypes should be regarded as different diseases and researched and managed accordingly. Treatment of ovarian cancer that considers subtype will rely on accurate subtype classification. To address this, we have developed a novel test called PrOTYPE (Predictor of Ovarian cancer Types) that predicts ovarian cancer subtype. PrOTYPE is able to classify ovarian cancer subtypes with >94% accuracy compared to an expert gynecological pathologist. It is important to note that not every hospital has an expert gynecological pathologist. PrOTYPE analysis, however, would be able to provide expert-quality review to all clinical centres, either through direct testing or sending samples to a centralized clinic with PrOTYPE. PrOTYPE also provides accurate classification on pre-surgical biopsies. This is revolutionary as these samples are too small to be reliably classified by pathologists using current methods. Pre-surgical biopsies are collected when ovarian cancer patients have disease that is so extensive that the choice is made to treat first with chemotherapy, to reduce the burden of tumour before surgery. This is in contrast to typical treatment, which begins with surgery before administration of chemotherapy. PrOTYPE classification will allow for the first time, subtype-specific treatment decisions to be made from pre-surgical biopsies. We believe that PrOTYPE classification of ovarian cancer types will result in more personalized management of ovarian cancers which will lead to better outcomes and increased survival for women with this disease.