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Updates from the 2014 Society for Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting

Compiled by Robin Cohen, President-Elect, Ovarian Cancer National Alliance As in years past, a wealth of clinical research into ovarian cancer was presented at the 2014 Society for Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) meeting. Some of the biggest news for the ovarian cancer community is summarized below, including SGO's recommendations regarding genetic testing of ovarian cancer patients and the results from a nubmer of clinical trials presented at the meeting…

Study Shows 1 in 5 Women with Ovarian Cancer has Inherited Predisposition

(January 31, 2014)  A new study conservatively estimates that one in five women with ovarian cancer has inherited genetic mutations that increase the risk of the disease, according to research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Most women in the study would have been unaware of a genetic predisposition to ovarian cancer because they didn’t have strong family histories that suggested it…

Partner Member Profile: Hope for Heather

Hope for Heather was established in memory of Heather Weeks, a young woman who lost her life to colon cancer but spent her 20s working on behalf of women with ovarian cancer. Heather’s family started the organization in March of 2009. Their original goal was to raise about $1,000 a year for ovarian cancer research; they had no idea that within the next five years they would be able to donate more than $100,000…

Functional Analysis of Genetic Susceptibility Loci to Identify Biomarkers and Candidate Genes Associated with Ovarian Cancer Initiation, Progression and Outcome

Genetic factors can increase a woman’s chance of getting ovarian cancer; they can also affect how well a woman responds to treatment when she has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Working as part of a large international team, the three principle investigators of this proposal have identified and characterized multiple genetic factors that can influence both a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer and the chance of survival after a diagnosis of ovarian cancer…

After Angelina: What Do You Need to Know About Ovarian and Breast Cancer Risk?

Experts agree: “If you or a close relative has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, speak to your doctor about getting genetic counseling.” In the wake of Angelina Jolie’s announcement that she carries a genetic mutation linked to breast and ovarian cancers, thousands of women are wondering whether they are at risk. To address their concerns…

Family History of Breast Cancer but no Genetic Mutation Does Not Raise Risk of Ovarian Cancer

Women with a family history of breast cancer but no BRCA1/2 mutation were found to be at average risk for developing ovarian cancer. The prospective study of 8005 women from a breast cancer family history clinic found that women with a BRCA2 mutation had a 17-times higher risk of developing ovarian cancer than average, and women with a BRCA1 mutation had a 50-times higher risk of developing the disease than women with no BRCA mutation…

Press Release: Ovarian Cancer Advocates Praise Supreme Court Decision on Gene Patents

Ruling Will Give Women More Options to Learn About Genetic Risk Washington, DC—The Supreme Court ruled today that a company cannot patent naturally occurring genes, including isolated gene segments, overturning a decision made by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in August 2012, which upheld a patent claim on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations…

New Genetic Markers for Ovarian Cancer Discovered

A collaboration of more than 130 institutions analyzing data from more than 200,000 people found two new genetic markers increasing a woman's risk of developing ovarian cancer. New risk-modifying loci were identified for breast (n = 1) and ovarian (n = 2) cancers in BRCA1 mutation carriers and for breast cancer (n = 1) in BRCA2 mutation carriers…

IP Chemo Shows Survival Benefit

Two studies recently released show a survival benefit for intraperitoneal IP chemotherapy Women with the BRCA1 mutation given IP chemotherapy survived three years longer than those given IV chemotherapy. Read an article about the study here. A study presented at the SGO Annual Meeting showed an improvement in median survival of 10 months…

Press Release: Cancer Groups Praise Coverage of Genetic Counseling and Testing Under Affordable Care Act, Urge Coverage of Other Vital Services

For immediate release: February 28, 2013 Washington, DC—The federal government recently released regulations that clarify which preventive services will be covered under the Affordable Care Act without cost sharing for patients enrolled in private insurance plans. Preventive services are provided without cost sharing to people enrolled in private plans that were established after August 1, 2012…

Partner Member Profile: Bright Pink

Lindsay Avner founded Bright Pink in 2007, shortly after she learned that she carried a mutation in the BRCA gene. Just 22 years old when she was tested, Lindsay realized that she had nowhere to turn for advice on coping with her increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. “There was nothing for women who were young and at high risk,” says Mary Kate Fitzgerald…