Meta-analysis of cancer microarray data sets reveals a germ line expression profile in ovarian cancers: new biomarkers and potential drug targets

One of the main challenges facing oncology is the identification of highly restricted, cancer-specific biomarkers for use in early diagnostics, prognostics, patient stratification and as potential therapeutic targets, including immunotherapeutic and small drug targets. Germ line genes are normally only expressed in the reproductive organs and meiosis-specific genes are normally only activated within the foetal oocytes and/or the spermatocytes in adult males. Our work has been based on the hypothesis that these germ line genes become activated in cancers, driving the oncogenic process and serving as clinically relevant biomarkers / targets.