Detecting Ovarian Cancer Early: UH Cancer Researcher Expands Expertise with European Bioinformatics Institute Training

For Immediate Release: March 14, 2025 

By Alison Medley 

HOUSTON— Ovarian cancer has often been called a “silent killer” because it is frequently diagnosed in its advanced stages due to a lack of clear symptoms or an effective screening approach, according to the American Cancer Society. It is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women. Nearly 20,890 are expected to receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer in 2025, and more than 12,730 will die from this devastating disease. 

Leading the way in innovative ovarian cancer research at the University of Houston is Dr. Maram Quttina, Ph.D. who is dedicated to identifying molecular signatures that contribute to the aggressive nature of ovarian cancer. 

“Ovarian Cancer is such a deadly disease,” Quttina said. “It’s usually detected at these very advanced stages. Approximately 75 percent of these cases are usually detected at Stages 3 or 4 when the cancer has already metastasized. It's very frustrating to the patients. It’s very difficult to treat. I will identify distinctive molecular signatures among these different groups to explore more why the mortality rate is higher in this minority groups compared to the other groups.” 

A postdoctoral fellow at the University of Houston, Quttina has just completed a highly competitive international training program at the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI). This intensive program, offered only once a year to a select group of top-tier researchers worldwide, provides Quttina with advanced training in transcriptional analysis and computational biology.   

Additionally, Quttina was selected for two other prestigious courses at EBI: Microscopy Data Analysis and Cancer Genomics and Transcriptomics. Being selected for three of these highly competitive and prestigious courses marks a significant achievement in her career. 

“This training is incredibly complex and highly specialized, equipping me with advanced skills in programming and data analysis,” Quttina said. “It gave me an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in processing raw biometric data, generating precise graphs, and refining analytical techniques. This will enhance my ability to interpret patient data with greater accuracy, ultimately strengthening my research and grant-funded initiatives.” 

Quttina, whose research focuses on ovarian cancer metastasis, was recently awarded a $50,000 pilot grant through the HEALTH Center for Addictions Research and Cancer Prevention (HEALTH-RCMI) and the National Institutes of Health/NIMHD. Her project is entitled, Transcriptional Profiling of Spheroid Formation and Metastatic Potential in Ovarian Cancer. 

“I believe this training will open some opportunities,” Quttina said. “I can use my data, looking at specific biomarkers, to compare it to other populations—and explore why some cancer therapies working on certain patients and why some patients are resistant to therapies. I am hoping to predict some biomarkers that will help us understand more about ovarian cancer.” 

With only 35 participants selected globally, Quttina considers this training a major milestone in her career.  

“It’s such an honor to be part of such a prestigious program and to represent the University of Houston on an international scale,” Quttina said. “The opportunity to collaborate with experts from institutions has opened new doors for my research, including partners like the University of Cambridge, Simon Andrews from Babraham Institute—the developer of widely-used bioinformatics tools like FastQC, and the developers of Netflow, an open-source workflow management system that enables scalable, reproducible computational pipelines.” 

Quttina’s ongoing work is particularly focused on addressing the high mortality rate of ovarian cancer among Black women. Since ovarian cancer is often not detected early, it’s crucial to note some of the symptoms, including bloating or swelling of the abdomen, pelvic pain or discomfort, frequent urination, and feeling full quickly when eating.

Through Quttina’s pilot project, she hopes to build a database of biomarkers that will help explain disparities in treatment responses and disease progression.  

“By comparing our data with existing datasets, we can identify specific biomarkers that may explain why certain therapies are less effective for some patients,” Quttina said. “This knowledge could lead to more personalized and effective treatment strategies.”  

Currently, Quttina is in the process of collecting patient samples and preparing for in-depth data analysis at the UH Sequencing Core facility. She is also actively seeking additional funding opportunities, including grants from NIH and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), to expand her work.

"This training will be a game-changer for my research,” she said. “With the skills I gain, I’ll be able to analyze my data from scratch with greater precision, making meaningful contributions to cancer research and patient health outcomes.” 

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Alison Medley at 713.320.0933 or email aemedle2@central.uh.edu  For more information on Quttina’s research and the HEALTH-RCMI pilot program, visit HEALTH-RCMI's Newsroom.