Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for detecting early stage ovarian cancer in a patient. Also, methods for evaluating the ovarian cancer state of a patient are described herein. These methods involve the detection, analysis, and classification of biomarkers in biological samples.

Abstract: The invention provides method for predicting whether a cancer patient will respond to a therapy. Methods of the invention may involve examining protein from a cell of the cancer patient by determining the binding of a panel of antibodies to the protein. Methods of the invention may be used to generate both expression and activation profiles for cells from a cancer patient. Profiles from a cancer patient may then be compared to known profiles for therapy responders and non-responders to predict the individual response of the patient. For example, methods of the invention may be used to determine whether an ovarian or breast cancer patient will respond to a therapeutic protocol.

Abstract: Protein activation and expression signatures and methods of obtaining and using protein activation and expression signatures for cancer classification, prognosis, and therapy guidance are provided. A protein activation and expression signature may be formed by a process comprising: assaying a plurality of samples with a protein array; clustering the assayed samples based on patterns; and generating a heat map.