Regular Aspirin Use Lowers the Risk of Developing Ovarian Cancer(2/19/2010) Researchers from the University of Minnesota have reported that women who take aspirin on a regular basis have a decreased risk of developing ovarian cancer compared with non-users. The details of this study were published in the February 8, 2010 issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.
Symptoms May Do Little to Improve Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer(2/8/2010) Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have reported that the use of symptoms to trigger medical evaluation for ovarian cancer may not greatly increase early detection of ovarian cancer, and would result in a diagnosis of ovarian cancer in only 1 out of 100 women with symptoms. These results were published in an early online publication in the Journal of the National Cancer Instituteon January 28, 2010.
Search for Early Markers of Ovarian Cancer Continues(1/28/2010) Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have reported that levels of three potential biological markers of ovarian cancer—CA125, human epididymis protein 4, and mesothelin—begin to rise three years before the clinical diagnosis of ovarian cancer; they only become substantially elevated, however, less than a year before diagnosis. Detection of cancer at this stage may not be early enough to improve outcomes. These results were published in the January 6, 2010 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Women Report Symptoms to Primary Care Physicians Prior to Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer(9/1/2009) Researchers from the UK have reported that women with ovarian cancer usually report symptoms to primary care physicians before the diagnosis. These researchers suggest that these symptoms should be included in guidelines for diagnostic testing. The details of this study appeared online in the British Medical Journal on August 25, 2009.
Many High-risk Women Opt for Preventive Removal of Breasts and Ovaries(8/24/2009) Researchers from the University of Manchester in the UK have reported that many women who are considered to be at high risk for developing breast or ovarian cancer are choosing to undergo preventive mastectomy and/or oophorectomy in order to reduce their risk of developing the disease. The details of this study were reported in the August 1, 2009 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
High Time Costs for Informal Care Givers of Cancer Patients(9/10/2009) Researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have reported that the time spent by informal caregivers is significant and an important component in the overall burden of cancer care. The details of this study appeared in the September 4, 2009 issue of Cancer.
Fertility Preservation Appears to Be Safe for Young Women with Early-stage Ovarian Cancer(8/17/2009) Researchers from Columbia University have reported that preservation of the non-cancerous ovary and the uterus appears to be safe for young women with Stage IA or IC ovarian cancer and allows women to preserve their fertility. These results were published early online in Canceron August 10, 2009.
Further Evidence in Favor of Care for Ovarian Cancer Patients by Gynecologic Oncologists(2/5/2008) Researchers from several California academic medical centers have reported that patients under 55 years of age with Stages IC–II ovarian cancer were more likely to receive chemotherapy if they received treatment from a gynecologic oncologist. The details of this report appeared in the January, 2008 issue of Gynecologic Oncology.
Partial Hold on Telcyta® Development Removed(10/26/2007) The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed the partial hold it had placed on the clinical development of Telik, Inc’s investigative small molecule Telcyta (canfosfamide HCL, TLK286).
Avastin May Delay Progression of Ovarian Cancer(3/8/2010) The results of a recent clinical trial suggest that a combination of Avastin® (bevacizumab) and chemotherapy, followed by maintenance treatment with Avastin, may result in better progression-free survival than chemotherapy alone in women with advanced ovarian cancer. Initial results of this Phase III clinical trial were made available in a press release from Genentech; full results will be presented at a future medical meeting.
Pertuzumab plus Gemzar® Active in Platinum-resistant Ovarian Cancer(11/16/2009) Researchers involved in an international randomized trial have reported that pertuzumab may add to the activity of Gemzar® (gemcitabine) for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on November 9, 2009.
Dose-dense Taxol®-Paraplatin® Regimen Improves Survival in Ovarian Cancer(9/29/2009) Researchers affiliated with the Japanese Gynecology Oncology Group have reported that dose-dense weekly Taxol® (paclitaxel) plus Paraplatin® (carboplatin) improves survival of patients with advanced ovarian cancer compared with conventional dosing. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in The Lancet on September 20, 2009.
Twelve Cycles of Maintenance Taxol® Following a Complete Response Improves Progression-free Survival in Women with Advanced Ovarian Cancer(7/28/2009) Researchers affiliated with the Southwest Oncology Group and the Gynecologic Oncology Group have reported that 12 months of Taxol® (paclitaxel) improves progression-free survival (PFS) but not overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced ovarian cancer who achieved a complete response to platinum and Taxol-induction therapy. The details of this study appeared in the August 2009 issue of Gynecology Oncology.
Doxil® and Paraplatin® Superior to Taxol® and Paraplatin for Relapsed Ovarian Cancer(10/1/2009) Researchers affiliated with the Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup (CCIG) trial CALYPSO have reported that Doxil®, also marketed as Caelyx® and Myocet® (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin) and Paraplatin® (carboplatin) was more effective and better tolerated than Taxol® (paclitaxel) and Paraplatin for partially platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer (patients who relapse between six and 12 months). The details of this study were presented at the Joint ECCO 15 – 34th ESMO Multidisciplinary Congress in Berlin, September 20-24, 2009.
New Monoclonal Antibody, Farletuzumab, May Have Activity in Relapsed Ovarian Cancer(10/1/2009) Researchers involved in a multicenter Phase II clinical trial have reported that the addition of farletuzumab (MORab-003) to a taxane and a platinum compound increases the response rate in women with platinum-sensitive relapse compared with historical controls. The details of this study were presented at the Joint ECCO 15 – 34th ESMO Multidisciplinary Congress in Berlin, September 20-24, 2009.
Initiating Treatment Due to Elevated CA125 Marker Does Not Improve Survival in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer(6/3/2009) Researchers affiliated with the MRC and EORTC trial (MRC OV05/EORTC 55955 trials) have reported that early treatment for recurrent ovarian cancer based on a rising CA125 marker does not appear to improve overall survival compared with treatment that is started upon presentation of symptoms. The details of this study were presented at the Plenary Session of the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Orlando, Florida, on May 31.
Combination of Hycamtin® and Taxotere® Shows Promise in Treatment of Recurrent Gynecologic Cancers(5/18/2009) Researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine have reported that among women with recurrent ovarian or endometrial cancer, 25% experienced a partial or complete response to treatment with Hycamtin® (topotecan) and Taxotere® (docetaxel). The results of this Phase II clinical trial will be published in the June 2009 issue of Gynecologic Oncology.
Alimta® Has Activity in Platinum-resistant Ovarian Cancer(4/21/2009) Researchers affiliated with the Gynecologic Oncology Group have reported that Alimta® (permetrexed) has significant activity for the treatment of recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication on March 30, 2009 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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