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The role of factor V expression in ovarian cancer – an in vitro and in vivo study.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most fatal cancers with approximately 410 women in Ireland diagnosed each year. Ireland has one of the worst mortality rates in Europe from ovarian cancer with 65% of women dying within 5 years of diagnosis. Treatment for ovarian cancer includes the surgical removal of the tumour and aggressive cycles of chemotherapy. However, treatment is not a ‘one size fits all’ scenario. The need for biological markers is becoming increasing popular and demanding due to the ability of identifying biological pathways involved in a specific cancer that can be used as a potential drug target. Blood clotting and cancer are closely linked with many crucial proteins of the blood clotting pathway involved in cancer progress. Factor V is an essential protein found in the clotting pathway, with preliminary data indicating an increase in Factor V expression from tumours of ovarian cancer patients. This study aims to examine Factor V expression in ovarian tumour cells and its possible role in the growth and spreading of ovarian cancer. Additionally, we aim to compare the production of Factor V in cancerous versus non-cancerous ovarian tumour biopsies. We hope that this study will showcase Factor V as a potential therapeutic target for ovarian cancer patients.