News

FDA Approves First Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy for PD-L1–Positive Platinum-Resistant Disease

February 15, 2026

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first immunotherapy regimen shown to extend survival in a subset of ovarian cancer patients.  The FDA authorized Keytruda (pembrolizumab), made by Merck, in combination with chemotherapy, for PD-L1–positive, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers. Keytruda plus weekly Taxol (paclitaxel), with or without … Continued

OCRA-Funded Study Provides Clear New Evidence That Opportunistic Salpingectomy Drastically Reduces Risk of Ovarian Cancer

February 2, 2026

A new study published February 2 in JAMA Network Open provides the clearest evidence to date that opportunistic salpingectomy—the removal of the fallopian tubes during another gynecologic surgery—can dramatically reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. Led by a B.C.-based international collaboration known as the Ovarian Cancer Observatory, the study found that people who underwent opportunistic … Continued

OCRA Invests More than $10.8 Million Toward Research, Part of $14.5 Million Commitment in 2025

November 12, 2025

In 2025, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) invested more than $10.8 million toward scientific research—part of our $14.5 million commitment to strengthen the community through research, patient support, education and advocacy. This year’s investment represents OCRA’s broadest scope to date, encompassing not only our renowned grant programs but also global collaborations leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) … Continued

OCRA-Funded Research Highlights Disparities in Survival for Patients with Early Ovarian Cancer Precursor

October 31, 2025

Research Breakthrough: At The Ohio State University Medical Center, researchers found that among people diagnosed with an early ovarian cancer precursor, older patients and Black patients face worse survival, underscoring the urgent need for more tailored care and treatment strategies. Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) is a rare lesion in the fallopian tube that is … Continued

KVIA-TV ABC-7 Features OCRA-Funded Research Developing Nanotechnology for Ovarian Cancer Detection

October 7, 2025

KVIA-TV ABC-7 News El Paso recently spotlighted the groundbreaking work of OCRA-funded researcher Daniel Heller, PhD of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, whose research lab is working to develop a liquid biopsy that uses nanotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect ovarian cancer earlier. We’re developing a liquid biopsy that uses nano sensors and AI … Continued

OCRA-Funded Research Finds Probiotics May Help Reduce Radiation Side Effects in Gynecologic Cancer Patients

September 25, 2025

Research Breakthrough: Researchers at Ohio State University found that probiotic supplements may help gynecologic cancer patients reduce radiation-related gut side effects like diarrhea and cramping, while prebiotics alone showed little benefit. Researchers at the Ohio State University Medical Center performed a systematic review to look at whether probiotics (beneficial live microbes) and prebiotics (fiber that … Continued

Researchers Discover Potential Therapeutic Targets for Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer

August 21, 2025

Scientists have identified sixteen potential therapeutic targets in low-grade serous ovarian cancer by studying proteins at the molecular level, with results published on August 11, 2025, in the journal Cancer Cell. The research was led by Ernst Lengyel, MD, PhD of University of Chicago, along with Matthias Mann, PhD, of the Max Planck Institute of … Continued

OCRA-Funded Research Points to More Personalized Care for Mucinous Ovarian Cancer

August 13, 2025

Research Breakthrough: Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center identified key gene changes in certain mucinous ovarian cancers with potential to guide care and predict outcomes when identified through genetic testing at diagnosis. Mucinous ovarian cancer is a rare type of ovarian cancer that behaves differently from more common forms, and doctors … Continued

OCRA-Funded Research Identifies Promising Drug Combination for Chemoresistant Ovarian Cancer

August 1, 2025

Research Breakthrough: At The University of Chicago, researchers systematically tested existing therapies to find an effective drug combination that shows promise as a treatment for ovarian cancer.  Scientists are looking for better ways to treat high-grade serous ovarian cancer, especially the cancer cells that survive standard chemotherapy (carboplatin) and lead to recurrence. In this study, researchers … Continued

FDA Gives Its First-Ever Approval of Treatment for KRAS-Mutated Recurrent Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer

May 16, 2025

The Food and Drug Administration has granted accelerated approval to Avmapki Fakzynja Co-pack (avutometinib capsules; defactinib tablets), made by Verastem Oncology, making it the first FDA-approved treatment for patients with recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) who have a KRAS mutation.  The approval is based on the results of the Phase 2 RAMP 201 clinical … Continued

OCRA-Funded Research Develops AI Tool to Predict Treatment Outcomes

April 30, 2025

Research Breakthrough: A team of researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center developed a pioneering AI tool to better predict treatment response, a step toward earlier personalized treatment plans. The researchers created a new artificial intelligence tool that uses images from diagnostic laparoscopy, minimally invasive camera-made images taken inside the abdomen, to predict how patients … Continued

OCRA’s Early Career Investigator Grant Recipients

April 17, 2025

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance is proud to support five outstanding scientists through our Early Career Investigator Grants, part of the $6 million in new research OCRA is funding in 2025. These grants are essential to ensure that promising researchers with an established commitment to ovarian and related gynecologic cancers can continue to focus their efforts on … Continued