Abstract: Novel biomarkers and targets associated with ovarian cancer, particularly clear-cell carcinoma, endometrioid carcinoma, and uterine carcinoma, are disclosed. Mutations in genes encoding proteins that form part of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling protein complex, including ARID1A, or loss of expression of such proteins, including BAF250a, can be used to evaluate the likelihood endometriosis will progress or transform to cancer, to provide a prognosis for a patient with cancer, to assess whether conventional treatment is likely to be effective against a cancer, and/or in a synthetic lethal screen to identify novel targets and therapeutics for the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: A method of detecting a granulosa-cell tumor is described herein. The method involves detecting a mutation in a sample derived from a subject, indicative of substitution of tryptophan in place of cysteine at amino acid position 134 of FOXL2 protein. The mutation may be detected as a DNA mutation 402C>G in the FOXL2 gene. Methods for screening for a granulosa-cell tumor from a blood-based assay are provided, as well as methods for making a determination that an ovarian tumor is not a granulosa-cell tumor. Kits for granulosa-cell tumors are described, and a method of treating a granulosa-cell tumor are also described.