Search Results for brca

New Study on BRCA Mutation in Women with Ovarian Cancer

A new study of 1,001 women with ovarian cancer found that 14% of them carried a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. However, 44% of those women did not have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. The BRCA mutations can not only help evaluate risk of developing ovarian cancer, but may direct treatment and can be prognostic - women with a mutation lived longer than those who did not have one…

Study Finds BRCA Mutation Boosts Ovarian Cancer Survival

01/27/2012   A large, multicenter study shows that women with ovarian cancer who have mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes have better survival rates than women who do not have such mutations. The study is also the first to provide strong evidence that ovarian cancer prognosis is better for women with BRCA2 mutations than women with BRCA1 mutations…

Development of Combination Therapy with PARP-Inhibitors and Immunomodulation for BRCA1-Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Recent studies have shown that women with ovarian cancers that result from an inherited mutation in the BRCA gene, show an excellent response to a drug called a PARP inhibitor.  This is because the drug capitalizes on a vulnerability created by the gene mutation, allowing it to kill cancer cells and spare normal cells.  We have found an additional vulnerability in these hereditary ovarian cancers that stems from the response of the immune system to the tumors…

BRCA/AKT1 Pathway in Ovarian Cancer

Mutations in the BRCA1 gene account for more than 30 percent of hereditary ovarian cancer and loss of BRCA1 expression has been shown in 30 percent to 60 percent of sporadic [or non-hereditary] ovarian cancers, the more common types of ovarian cancer. As such, it is believed BRCA1 plays a key role in both hereditary and sporadic ovarian cancer development…

Another Protein Made by BRCA1 and its Role in Ovarian Cancer

In some families, ovarian cancer is caused by the inaction of the tumor-suppressor gene, BRCA1. Dr. El Shamy has has discovered a second protein produced at the BRCA1 gene location, named IRIS, the function of which is not known. But Dr. El Shamy believes IRIS plays an opposite role in the life of ovarian cells, stimulating the growth and dispersion of these cells…

science lab

Ask the Experts | What Holds Promise in Ovarian Cancer Research?

OCRA’s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) is comprised of doctors and researchers who are well-known and well-respected experts in the field of gynecologic oncology. They review the proposals we receive for research funding – hundreds of letters of intent and grant applications from investigators all around the world who are determined and dedicated to finding a cure for ovarian cancer…

Dr. Kathleen N. Moore and Dr. Priyanka Verma in side by side photo

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance Awards Two Prizes Recognizing Exceptional Researchers

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA), the world’s largest ovarian cancer charity, announced today the 2023 winners of the Rosalind Franklin Prize for Excellence in Ovarian Cancer Research and the Schreiber Research Prize for Outstanding Mentored Investigators. One recipient is being recognized for her noteworthy leadership in the field, which includes seminal work in novel therapeutics as well as mentorship to dozens of other researchers…

Photo: Researcher Jasmine Plummer, PhD, of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in conversation in her office

Jasmine Plummer, PhD | Meet a Scientist

Dr. Jasmine Plummer of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (formerly of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center) is a 2022 recipient of OCRA’s Early Career Investigator Grant. Her OCRA-funded project is focused on better understanding how genetic mutations trigger cancer development. The goal of her research is to find early biomarkers of ovarian cancer and also identify drugs to effectively target genetic mutations so that normal cells do not develop into tumor cells…

Side by side photo of Madeleine standing on a beach wearing a wetsuit and making a strength sigh, and Emma Jean holding up her arms to show off her handmade teal bracelets

A New Generation Finds Purpose in Fundraising to Fight Ovarian Cancer

Madeleine and Emma Jean may be young, at ages eight and nine, respectively, but they are already focused on how to help create a future in which no families are impacted by ovarian cancer. These two OCRA Heroes have never met but they have a shared motivation for their efforts — losing their namesakes to ovarian cancer…

Dr. Anil Sood headshot

OCRA-Funded Study Discovers Potential Target for Overcoming Treatment Resistance 

Snap Summary: An OCRA-funded study sought to understand why certain ovarian cancer cells resist olaparib treatment, and discovered that introducing a second drug (mifepristone) while targeting certain cells (polyploid giant cancer cells) may offer a solution. In a study published in the journal Science Advances, researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center set their sights on PARP inhibitor resistance in the most common subtype of ovarian cancer…

Going Online to Garner Support and Awareness

As we gear up for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we are turning our attention to two OCRA Heroes who are harnessing the power of everyday technology to garner support for our community and educate others about ovarian cancer via online fundraising campaigns for OCRA. Read on to learn more about their stories and the inspiring women who sparked their efforts.  …

close-up photos of lab equipment

Can a Pap Smear Detect Ovarian Cancer? A Comprehensive Look

No, a Pap smear does not test for ovarian cancer; it screens for cervical cancer. In fact, no reliable screening or early detection tests exist for ovarian cancer. What is a Pap Smear? In the realm of women's health, a prevalent question emerges: "Does a Pap smear reveal ovarian cancer?" This inquiry stems from a widespread misconception regarding the capabilities of the Pap smear…