Ovarian Cancer Detection via CTGF Gene Alteration Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Early diagnosis of ovarian cancer remains challenging due to the difficulty in identifying causative genes and developing effective therapeutic methods, with existing diagnostic markers and prevention strategies being inadequate.
Innovation Solution
A method for detecting cancer through the identification of gene alterations in specific chromosomal regions, specifically targeting the CTGF gene, using techniques like Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) and immunohistochemical methods to analyze genetic abnormalities and protein expression levels in ovarian cancer specimens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional diagnostic methods are used for ovarian cancer, then the diagnosis can be made with existing procedures, but early diagnosis remains difficult and mortality rate is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex task of ovarian cancer diagnosis into specific chromosomal region analyses. It identifies and examines alterations in particular genes located at defined chromosomal positions (e.g., 6q23 region), breaking down the genome into manageable segments for targeted detection. This segmentation enables more precise early diagnosis by focusing on specific genetic markers rather than attempting to analyze the entire genome at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting gene alterations before clinical symptoms manifest. Through CGH analysis and immunohistochemical methods, the invention identifies chromosomal abnormalities and protein expression changes in early stages of carcinogenesis, enabling intervention before the disease progresses to advanced stages with high mortality.
2Loss of information
If comprehensive genomic analysis is performed to identify causative genes, then understanding of cancer mechanisms improves, but diagnostic complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by focusing analysis on specific chromosomal regions with known or suspected cancer-related genes rather than performing uniform comprehensive genomic analysis. It concentrates resources on examining particular loci (e.g., CTGF gene at 6q23) where genetic alterations are most relevant to ovarian cancer, thereby reducing diagnostic complexity while maintaining mechanistic understanding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs CGH (Comparative Genomic Hybridization) as a universal method that can detect various types of genetic alterations simultaneously - including deletions, amplifications, and chromosomal rearrangements - across multiple chromosomal regions. This multi-functional approach allows comprehensive cancer mechanism understanding through a single diagnostic platform rather than requiring multiple separate tests.
3Measurement precision
If gene alteration detection methods are used for early diagnosis, then detection precision improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring gene alterations remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses CGH as an intermediary technique that bridges the gap between complex genomic alterations and detectable signals. By hybridizing labeled test and control DNA to chromosomal spreads or arrays, CGH converts subtle genetic changes into visible patterns that can be measured and analyzed, thereby reducing the difficulty of detecting gene alterations while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color-based detection in CGH analysis where different fluorescent dyes (e.g., red and green fluorophores) label test and control DNA samples. Chromosomal regions with genetic alterations display characteristic color ratios or patterns, enabling precise detection of gene alterations through optical signal changes rather than requiring complex molecular analysis.
4Loss of time
If CTGF gene analysis is used to evaluate ovarian cancer stage and survival, then therapeutic intervention opportunities increase, but the complexity of analyzing genetic abnormalities and protein expression increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges chromosomal analysis (CGH) with protein expression analysis (immunohistochemistry) into a unified diagnostic workflow for CTGF gene evaluation. By combining these two methods, the invention simultaneously assesses both genetic alterations at the DNA level and functional protein expression at the protein level, providing comprehensive cancer staging information that enables timely therapeutic intervention without requiring separate sequential analyses.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables early detection of ovarian cancer malignancy and potential therapeutic interventions by identifying characteristic gene behavior, including the use of CTGF gene alterations, which can inhibit or activate cell growth, providing a basis for developing targeted treatments.
Implementation Method 1
Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) is the best method for conveniently and rapidly analyzing genetic abnormalities
Implementation Method 2
immunohistochemical methods to analyze genetic abnormalities and protein expression levels
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting cancer through identification of genes exhibiting characteristic behavior in the cases of cancer such as ovarian cancer, and a cell growth inhibitor. The present invention provides a method for detecting cancer, which comprises detecting canceration including malignancy of a specimen through detection of at least one alteration of a gene existing in a chromosomal region 2q14. 2, 3p24. 1, 3q26. 2, 3q29, 4q34. 2, 6q23, 9p21. 3, 11q13. 3, 13q22.1, 13q33. 1, 13q33. 3, 15q12, 15q15. 1, 17p12, 17p13. 1, 17p13. 3, 18q21. 1, 18q21. 2, 18q21. 31, 18q21. 32, 18q21. 33, 18q23, 20q13. 13, 20q13. 2, 20q13. 31, 20q13. 33, Xp11. 23, Xp13.1, Xp13. 3, Xp26. 2, Xp26. 3, or Xq28 in the specimen.