Researchers in Adelaide have found a new molecular target that could transform how ovarian cancer is diagnosed and treated, raising fresh hopes for women living with one of the world’s deadliest cancers.
A team from the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide has identified a receptor called F2R, found at high levels on the surface of ovarian cancer cells, particularly in cases where the disease has spread or resisted chemotherapy. Their work, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, points to F2R as both a potential biomarker for early detection and a target for future therapies.
Dr Hugo Albrecht from UniSA’s Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation says current diagnostic tools often fail to detect the disease early enough for effective treatment. “Existing biomarkers aren’t accurate enough, leaving doctors with limited ways to predict how patients will respond to treatment,” he explains. “Our findings suggest that F2R could help fill that gap and support more personalised approaches to care.”
Ovarian cancer remains the most lethal gynaecological cancer, claiming more than 200,000 lives each year. Around 70 per cent of cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, largely because early symptoms are vague and can be confused with other conditions. The most commonly used biomarker, CA-125, is unreliable because it can also be elevated by non-cancerous factors, making it unsuitable for screening.
To build a clearer picture, the Adelaide team analysed extensive genomic data and confirmed high F2R levels in tumour samples from patients. They found that women with greater F2R expression tended to have shorter survival times, highlighting its potential as a prognostic marker.
Laboratory studies went further, showing that silencing F2R reduced cancer cell movement and invasiveness—traits that drive metastasis. When F2R was suppressed, tumour cells also became more responsive to carboplatin, a common chemotherapy drug.
Dr Carmela Ricciardelli from the University of Adelaide’s Robinson Research Institute says these results could lead to more refined and responsive treatments. “Testing for F2R could help identify women at greater risk of recurrence or resistance to chemotherapy,” she says. “It might also help tailor drug combinations that deliver stronger results.”
While the findings are still in the early stages, the researchers believe the discovery could lay the groundwork for new diagnostic and therapeutic options. Larger clinical studies are needed to confirm the results and translate them into practice.
“Ovarian cancer has been so difficult to detect early, which is why outcomes have remained poor,” Dr Albrecht says. “By understanding how F2R drives the disease, we may be able to develop better tools for diagnosis and treatment that genuinely improve survival.”
The study, Protease-activated receptor F2R is a potential target for new diagnostic/prognostic and treatment applications for patients with ovarian cancer, was authored by researchers from the University of South Australia, the University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
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