Finding a method of early detection for ovarian cancer has been a primary focus of research for years, and was believed to be a promising approach to stopping women, or anyone born with ovaries, from dying of the disease. Some other cancers have demonstrated that earlier stage diagnoses can lead to better prognoses, and an oft-cited … Continued
OCRA is pleased to award research prizes to Dr. Ursula Matulonis and Dr. Pradeep Chaluvally-Raghavan, two investigators doing groundbreaking and important work in the field of ovarian cancer research. OCRA’s research prize recipients are selected by members of OCRA’s Scientific Advisory Committee. These prizes were awarded in December 2022. Dr. Ursula Matulonis Awarded Rosalind Franklin … Continued
Many people talk about New Year’s resolutions in the month of January, which is all well and good. But sometimes these long-range goals don’t exactly stick. Why not focus on simple actions you can take right now? Here are three things you can do in 2023 that will have a huge impact on OCRA, and … Continued
A recent study, funded in part by OCRA, has shed new light on how the most common subtype of ovarian cancer develops and metastasizes, by identifying a key molecule that allows malignancies in the fallopian tube to migrate to the ovaries and continue to grow. High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is the most common subtype … Continued
As immunotherapies have seen rising success in treating several other cancers, researchers are hard at work uncovering why immunotherapy for ovarian cancer has, so far, proven ineffective. In a study published in Nature, a research team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center set out to identify specific factors that lead to immune evasion in high-grade … Continued
Dr. Melica Brodeur, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, is a 2022 recipient of OCRA’s Mentored Investigator Grant. With her project, “Exploiting SMARCA4 Alterations for New Therapeutics in Ovarian Cancer,” Dr. Brodeur is investigating a genetic mutation, found in more than half of ovarian cancers, that is associated with relatively high presence of active immune … Continued
“We are truly in the Golden Age, the Renaissance, if you will, of care for people with ovarian cancer. So much is happening.” Dr. Stephanie Blank Though there is still much progress to be made when it comes to ovarian cancer therapies, breakthroughs in recent years have led to significant changes in how the disease … Continued
There are many different celebrations involving light during these dark winter days. And certainly, our community is a great source of brightness — from the hope of scientific breakthroughs on the horizon to the strength, grace and resilience shown by so many patients and survivors. And, of course, there’s the fierce dedication to our shared … Continued
Dr. Amrita Salvi, of University of Illinois at Chicago, is a 2022 recipient of OCRA’s Mentored Investigator Grant. With her project, “Investigating the Mechanism of Action of PHY34 in HGSOC,” Dr. Salvi is exploring the potential of a synthetic molecule called PHY34, which has been shown to reduce ovarian tumor growth in mice models, for … Continued
Dr. Zelei Yang, of Dana Farber Cancer Institute, is a 2022 recipient of OCRA’s Mentored Investigator Grant. With her project, “Re-engaging the Anti-tumor Immune Response Against Ovarian Cancer,” Dr. Yang is investigating a potential new immune therapy for ovarian cancer, by focusing on BRD1 protein inhibitors that hold potential to trigger a person’s immune system … Continued
Dr. Gamze Bildik Elcik, postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Experimental Therapeutics at MD Anderson Cancer Center, is a 2022 recipient of OCRA’s Mentored Investigator Grant. With her project, “DIRAS3 Inhibits KRAS and Sensitizes LGSOC Cells to Anti-autophagic Therapy,” Dr. Bildik Elcik aims to address the issue of chemotherapy resistance in a large subset of … Continued
Recent research published in JNCCN–Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network has shown that there are clear disparities when it comes to which ovarian cancer patients are receiving treatment in accordance with expert clinical guidelines that can significantly impact survival outcomes. And these racial disparities persist even when accounting for other factors that affect healthcare access. The … Continued
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