| Kallikrein 6 is a member of the kallikrein family of secreted serine proteases. hK6 is elevated in serum and ascites fluid of ovarian cancer patients and related to the stage of disease. We hypothesized that KLK6 can be utilized to monitor blood dissemination of ovarian cancer cells.;After establishing a sensitive method of identifying KLK6 transcripts, we were able to detect 15 tumour cells spiked in 10ml of anti-coagulated blood. A screening of disseminated cells in blood from 22 ovarian cancer patients showed 72% sensitivity but the specificity was only 20%. Thus, this method does not posses clinical value. Screening of ascites fluid of these patients had 88% sensitivity for ovarian cancer and 25% for non-gynecological cancer. Significant correlations were identified among kallikreins 4,5,6,7,8,10,11,13,14 in ascites fluid. We have shown that these kallikreins may serve to differentially diagnose ovarian cancer from other cancer types or non-malignant diseases causing ascites production. |
