The NormaLeah Ovarian Cancer Foundation is named for two sisters who both died from ovarian cancer. Executive Director Jodie Shagrin Kavensky, one of Norma’s daughters, recalls that her mother attended a women’s cancer luncheon a few months before she passed away. “They never talked about ovarian cancer. As she was dying, my mother said, ‘Jodie, … Continued
(September 2, 2014) New research by researchers at the University of Chicago, including OCRF grantee and Scientific Advisory Committee member Ernst Lengyel, MD, PhD, investigated whether statin use is associated with improved epithelial ovarian cancer (OvCa) survival. The findings were published this month in PLoS One. The use of statins to lower cholesterol as a … Continued
(August 27, 2014) Recent research published in Cancer Epidemiology suggests that there is “no association with consumption of total fat, animal or plant fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, monounsaturated fat, or fatty fish and risk of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer.” An international team of researchers was interested in assessing the relationship between fat intake and risk … Continued
(August 21, 2014) A research network in the US proposes that cancer should be classified according to genetic and molecular features rather than by the type of tissue in which the tumor arises. While more work is needed to confirm and build on the findings, the scientists say such a system would be better for … Continued
Campaign at Newk’s 70 fast-casual restaurants runs through Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month JACKSON, Miss. (August 20, 2014) — The fast-casual Newk’s Eatery restaurant brand is joining forces with one of its own to launch a Newk’s Cares campaign with Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF). The campaign will raise awareness about early detection, raise funds for … Continued
BRCA mutations in ovarian cancer are a double-edged sword. While BRCA gene mutation carriers have a significantly higher risk of developing ovarian cancer, BRCA gene mutation in tumors is associated with a significant increase in patient survival. Scientists believe that this is because loss of BRCA gene expression leads to an increase tumor cell response … Continued
For the founders of OCERN, the Ovarian Cancer Education & Research Network, Inc., becoming a Partner Member of the Alliance was a “no brainer.” Executive Director Gina Dayton notes that the founders believed in a three-pronged approach to ovarian cancer outreach: “We wanted to advance research and continue to educate others about the symptoms—but we … Continued
(July 29, 2014) OCRF-funded research published earlier this month provides the first proof of principle that epigenomic strategies efficiently target ovarian cancer stem cells, which are key for treatment resistance and the major factor in therapy failures. OCRF grantees Kenneth Nephew, PhD and Daniela Matei, MD are first and senior author of the paper, which was … Continued
When her ovarian cancer recurred in 2010, Jean Ebert sought treatment in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She soon connected with another woman who had been diagnosed around the same time—2008—with the same stage of ovarian cancer. Jean and Charlotte quickly formed a connection. “She wanted to do something and I wanted to do something,” recalls … Continued
(July 28, 2014) Research published last week in Behavioral Medicine suggests that most high-risk women (>75%) do not know their risk for ovarian cancer. Women with a documented deleterious mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 are at substantially elevated risk for ovarian cancer. To understand what percentage of women with high risk family histories know their … Continued
QVC and Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Promote National Awareness During the “QVC Presents Super Saturday LIVE” Broadcast WEST CHESTER, Pa. (July 22, 2014) – Shop for a cure with designer bargains galore. QVC and Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) are joining forces once again for “QVC Presents Super Saturday LIVE,” an annual “designer charity sale” … Continued
(July 21, 2014) According to research funded in part by OCRF, circulating tumor cells spread ovarian cancer through the bloodstream, homing in on a sheath of abdominal fatty tissue where it can grow and metastasize to other organs. This new finding, supported in part by an OCRF Program Project Development Grant to Anil Sood, MD, … Continued
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