New technology serves as an early detection 

By Caleb Yi

Ovarian cancer is notoriously difficult to detect early on, mainly because it doesn’t show symptoms until the cancer is already advancing. Its symptoms are often vague at best, since bloating, abdominal pain, and changes in appetite are all non-specific and easily misinterpreted. Adding to that, unlike cervical or breast cancer, there aren’t any effective or easily accessible screening tests for ovarian cancer, which makes it more difficult to detect, even if one wants to. According to an article by the Journal of the American Medical Association, 60% to 70% of ovarian cancers are identified in the later stages, often stage III or IV, where the disease has spread beyond the ovaries.  But a blood test made by AOA Dx, a biotech company, has proven to be capable of detecting ovarian cancer with remarkable accuracy. 

The test works by looking for molecular signatures in the blood that signal for ovarian cancer, such as proteins, lipids, and gangliosides, and combinations of these offer a biological fingerprint for ovarian cancer. They also utilize machine learning and an algorithm that has been trained on thousands of patients to check for ovarian cancer with high accuracy. In fact, in a study with over 950 women at the University of Colorado, it was 93% accurate at all stages and 91% accurate at early stages. These new tools of technology and medical breakthroughs have now given us a greater alternative to older methods of ovarian cancer detection. Previously, the method of detection was scans and biopsies, with the possibility of surgery, which is much more sensitive and invasive than a blood test. 

With ovarian cancer being the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women, this new blood test from the AOA Dx stands as an incredible creation to lower the tragic statistics. Its high accuracy and simple use prove to be a better alternative to scans and biopsies, and its ability to detect ovarian cancer early on prevents the disease from developing. In the fight against ovarian cancer, this is a breakthrough that can tip the scales.

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“Why Ovarian Cancer Is Called the Silent Killer and What Can Change That.” The Times of India, 6 Feb. 2025. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/why-ovarian-cancer-is-called-the-silent-killer-and-what-can-change-that/articleshow/121211684.cms.

Boseley, Sarah. “Ovarian Cancer Blood Test Can Detect Disease Early, Study Suggests.” The Guardian, 26 Aug. 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/aug/26/ovarian-cancer-blood-test-can-detect-disease-early-study-suggests.

“Blood Test Detects Ovarian Cancer with High Accuracy.” Medical Xpress, 26 Aug. 2025. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-blood-ovarian-cancer-high-accuracy.html.

“Ovarian Cancer Statistics.” Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, 2024. https://ocrahope.org/for-patients/gynecologic-cancers/ovarian-cancer/ovarian-cancer-statistics/.