News

OCRF Research Shows How Ovarian Tumors Elude Immune System

OCRF Research Shows How Ovarian Tumors Elude Immune System

May 6, 2014

(May 6, 2014) Tumors use numerous mechanisms to escape detection and killing by the immune system. Results from OCRF-funded research, reported May 4, 2014 in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine, show that ovarian cancer cells (and others) establish a protective barrier that prevents anti-tumor immune responses by using tumor-associated blood vessels to kill immune cells. … Continued

OCRA News

Alliance submits comments to FDA on off-label use of oncolo...

Alliance submits comments to FDA on off-label use of oncology drugs

May 2, 2014

This week, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about a proposed Guidance for Industry that could have the effect of limiting patient access to “off label” oncology drugs. In cancer, many people are prescribed treatments approved for other uses, but not currently approved for a particular disease. … Continued

Advocacy

Imaging Predicts Response in Ovarian Cancer

Imaging Predicts Response in Ovarian Cancer

April 30, 2014

(April 30, 2014) A positive pretreatment imaging test more than doubled the likelihood of disease control in platinum-resistant advanced ovarian cancer treated with the folate receptor-targeted drug vintafolide (trade name Vynfinit), results of a small phase II study showed. The research was reported in the April issue of Annals of Oncology. Lesions that tested positive for … Continued

Research

Partner Member Profile: Rhonda’s Club/Ovarian and Gyn...

Partner Member Profile: Rhonda’s Club/Ovarian and Gynecologic Cancer Coalition

April 22, 2014

Rhonda’s Club was founded in 1997, roughly the same time as the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance—and by some of the same people. Rhonda Oziel, Pat Goldman, Ann Kolker, Clare Donelan and Susan Butler were among a small group that formed the original Ovarian and Gynecologic Cancer Coalition of Greater Washington.  “Women found it very hard … Continued

Community

SGO and AACR Research Round-Up

SGO and AACR Research Round-Up

April 18, 2014

With two marquee scientific conferences, the Society for Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), occurring back-to-back, the past few weeks have seen an explosion in ovarian cancer research news. This post rounds-up all that news and puts it in one place for you. All women with ovarian cancer should consider … Continued

Advocacy

Liz Tilberis

April 16, 2014

This month, we celebrate Liz Tilberis, beloved former president of OCRF and editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar.

Community

News from AACR: Irregular Menses Linked to High Risk of Ova...

News from AACR: Irregular Menses Linked to High Risk of Ovarian Cancer

April 15, 2014

(April 15, 2014) Prolonged (>35 days), infrequent, or anovulatory menstrual cycles was associated with as much as a two-fold increase in ovarian cancer and more than a three-fold increase in the risk of fatal ovarian cancer, according to a 50-year, prospective follow-up in 14,403 women. The findings were presented at the American Association for Cancer … Continued

Research

Physical Activity Associated with Lower Risk of Ovarian Can...

Physical Activity Associated with Lower Risk of Ovarian Cancer Mortality

April 8, 2014

(April 8, 2014) A team of researchers have found that vigorous physical activity prior to ovarian cancer diagnosis was associated with a lower risk of ovarian cancer mortality.  The findings were published in Gynecologic Oncology. There is limited knowledge of the association of modifiable lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and obesity on mortality among … Continued

Research

Rachel Zoe and Molly Sims to host Ovarian Cancer Research F...

Rachel Zoe and Molly Sims to host Ovarian Cancer Research Fund’s Inaugural Super Saturday LA

April 7, 2014

Designer Charity Sale expands to the West Coast in celebration of OCRF’S 20th Anniversary; Offers Day-Long Luxury Experiences for the Whole Family Los Angeles, CA (April 7, 2014) – Rachel Zoe and Molly Sims with their husbands Rodger Berman and Scott Stuber will host Ovarian Cancer Research Fund’s 1st Annual Super Saturday LA. The event, … Continued

Events

OCRF Research Identifies Fusion Gene Common in Ovarian Cancer

OCRF Research Identifies Fusion Gene Common in Ovarian Cancer

April 7, 2014

(April 7, 2014) A group of OCRF-funded researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have found a “fusion gene” that is present in 20% of high grade serous ovarian cancer patients.  The finding, which was published in PLOS Genetics, was supported in part by OCRF grants to Martin Matzuk, MD, PhD, Shannon Hawkins, MD, PhD, and … Continued

OCRA News

108 Members of the House of Representative Support Ovarian ...

108 Members of the House of Representative Support Ovarian Cancer Research Funding

April 4, 2014

Each spring, Congress takes up the task of allocating money to federal programs. And each spring, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance works to ensure that ovarian cancer research funding remains a top priority. This year was no exception. On Wednesday, 108 Members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee … Continued

Advocacy

Discoverer of BRCA genes said “being ignored” h...

Discoverer of BRCA genes said “being ignored” helped her do her research

April 1, 2014

Last week marked the 20th year anniversary of the discovery of the BRCA1 gene by Mary-Claire King, Ph.D., an American geneticist. Dr. King, who was interviewed last week by NPR, talked about how being ignored by her male colleagues actually made it easier for her to do her work. At the time of her discovery, … Continued

Research