Advancements In Early Diagnosis Of Ovarian Cancer May 'Lay' With Chickens

Scientists may have discovered the perfect model for potentially developing early detection of ovarian cancer; the chicken.

The study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center and the University of Illinois in Chicago and Urbana, Champaign, found that ultrasound examination can be used to detect signs of ovarian cancer in laying hens. Study authors say research with chickens could be applied to developing tools for early detection in humans.

Ovarian cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death among women due to the asymptomatic nature of the disease in early stages and a lack of early detection methods. The lack of a valid ovarian cancer animal model has been a major obstacle to ovarian cancer prevention research. Development of such a model would represent a significant breakthrough.

"Chickens are extremely useful because laying hens are the only animals to develop spontaneous ovarian cancer like a human," said Dr. Jacques Abramowicz, professor of obstetrics/gynecology and director of Obstetrics and Gynecology Ultrasound at Rush. "And chickens and humans tend to develop the same type of ovarian cancer, one that develops from the surface of the ovaries."

Abramowicz and a team of colleagues, under the direction of Judy Luborsky, PhD, associate professor of pharmacology and obstetrics and gynecology, used endo-vaginal ultrasonography to evaluate the form, structure and vascular changes of the ovaries in laying hens. Sonographic evaluations were compared with ovarian anatomy and histology. The results showed that ultrasonography correctly detected ovarian tumors in the hens with abnormal ovaries.

"Transvaginal ultrasonography offers the ability to make repeated examinations of the ovary in the same hen and makes it possible to monitor changes in ovarian status throughout a hen's life without affecting its reproductive physiology," said Abramowicz.

According to Animesh Barua, PhD, an instructor in the Department of Pharmacology at Rush and one of the basic scientists in the team, 40-50 percent of hens between the ages of four to six years develop ovarian cancer. Because the rate of ovarian cancer in hens is so high, researchers will be able to track hens from before they develop the disease until after and on into later stages.

"It is our goal to develop a successful model which can then be transferred to human care, helping to push detection rates back to earlier stages, especially in high risk women." said Abramowicz.