Liquid Biopsy Probe Panel for Accurate Ovarian Cancer Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for diagnosing ovarian cancer, particularly pre-operative diagnosis of pelvic masses, suffer from limited accuracy and invasiveness, making it difficult to obtain a holistic view of tumor progression and response to treatment, especially in cases of metastasis.

Innovation Solution

A panel of nucleic acid probes, comprising at least seven to nine probes, is used to hybridize with biomarkers in a liquid biopsy, such as blood or blood products, to detect the presence of ovarian cancer by analyzing hybridized biomarkers, allowing for improved diagnostic accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If invasive surgical methods are used to obtain tumor samples, then tumor quantity and quality can be obtained, but the procedure becomes difficult and invasive, posing major challenges in tumor profiling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetumor profiling accuracyVSAvoidsampling invasiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses liquid biopsy as an intermediary medium to access tumor information. Instead of directly invasive surgical sampling, the method extracts and analyzes circulating tumor DNA, cells, or other tumor-derived entities from blood or other body fluids, which serve as a non-invasive intermediary that carries tumor molecular profile data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a molecular copy of the tumor profile through liquid biopsy. By extracting and analyzing circulating tumor DNA and other molecular entities from body fluids, the method generates a replicable molecular profile that can be obtained repeatedly without invasive procedures, allowing continuous monitoring of tumor response and relapse.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If multiple biopsies are performed to monitor tumor response and relapse throughout treatment, then tumor evolution can be tracked, but the challenges and invasiveness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetumor monitoring accuracyVSAvoidsampling convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous monitoring throughout treatment by repeatedly sampling body fluids (blood, urine, etc.) to track tumor-derived entities over time. This continuous action allows monitoring of tumor response to therapy and detection of relapse without the need for repeated invasive surgical biopsies, maintaining reliability while improving convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If resected tumor samples are used for molecular profiling, then comprehensive tumor analysis is possible, but the heterogeneity of samples makes it difficult to obtain a holistic image of the tumor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemolecular profiling comprehensivenessVSAvoidtumor heterogeneity information

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the tumor molecular profile into multiple discrete biomarkers and genetic entities that can be independently detected in liquid biopsy samples. By analyzing multiple circulating tumor DNA fragments, cells, and other entities separately, the method can reconstruct a comprehensive molecular profile that captures tumor heterogeneity without requiring a single large resected sample.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If traditional tumor marker methods are used for pre-operative diagnosis, then diagnosis can be performed, but accuracy remains limited to 70-80% sensitivity and specificity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnosis accessibilityVSAvoiddiagnostic accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite diagnostic approach by combining multiple types of tumor-derived entities (circulating tumor DNA, circulating tumor cells, extracellular vesicles, and traditional tumor markers) into a single integrated liquid biopsy analysis. This composite approach leverages the strengths of each component to achieve diagnostic accuracy exceeding 80-90% sensitivity and specificity while maintaining the accessibility of non-invasive sampling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

The panel achieves diagnostic accuracy ranging from 70% to 100% in detecting ovarian cancer, enabling early-stage detection and reducing unnecessary surgeries by providing a high-certainty diagnosis through a minimally invasive method.

Implementation Method 1

contacting DNA from a biological sample containing cells from the subject with the panel of probes as described above to form hybridized biomarkers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHybridization:

Data Source

PatentUS20260055470A1Compositions and methods for detecting ovarian cancer

Publication Date: 2026.02.26 THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA RESEARCH

AI summary

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a panel of probes to detect biomarkers associated with ovarian cancer, wherein the probes hybridize to the biomarkers. Certain embodiments provide kits that comprise a panel of probes to detect biomarkers associated with ovarian cancer. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method of detecting the presence of biomarkers associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer in a human subject. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a human subject for ovarian cancer.