| Description of Ovarian Cancer
Surgery is part of the treatment for almost all patients with ovarian cancer. Chemotherapy - the use of drugs to kill cancer cells - is generally given when there are signs that the cancer has spread, or when the entire tumor cannot be removed at the time of surgery. Radiation therapy may be used in addition to surgery to kill cancer cells that may remain in the pelvic area. Surgery for ovarian cancer includes removal of the ovaries, the uterus, and the fallopian tubes. However, if a woman has a very early, slow-growing tumor and wants to have a child, the doctor may decide to remove only the affected ovary. When the cancer has spread to other organs in the abdomen, doctors try to remove as much of the cancer as possible.This leaves a smaller amount to be treated by chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.
WCN Editorial Contributors
Carolyn Y. Muller, MD, Chair, is currently the Director of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Dr. Muller completed her medical school education at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and her Ob-Gyn residency at the nation's first hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. After one year of general Ob-Gyn practice, she came to UT Southwestern for fellowship training in Gynecologic Oncology. She continued her postdoctoral training in molecular biology through the Reproductive Scientist Development Program. Her main research interests include developing molecular biomarkers for cervical cancer prevention and supporting novel therapeutics (such as gene therapy) for ovarian cancer. Her passion is in improving patient education in cancer prevention and treatment.
Extracellular protein sensitizes ovarian cancer cells to chemotherapy
Scientists have uncovered critical new details about the mechanisms that modulate the response of ovarian cancer cells to chemotherapy. The research, published by Cell Press in the December issue of Cancer Cell, helps to explain why many patients develop resistance to the taxane class of drugs and may lead to improved treatment of ovarian cancer. Full story � .
Obesity May Worsen Ovarian Cancer
The doctors included James Pavelka, MD, and Andrew Li, MD, of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. If their finding is correct, it could lengthen the list of possible links between obesity and cancer. Obesity has already been tied to cancers of the breast, colon, esophagus, kidney, and endometrium (inner uterus lining). Links to ovarian cancer haven't been certain, the researchers note. They studied the records of 216 women undergoing surgery and treatment for ovarian cancer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The patients were in their late-50s to mid-60s, on average. They included 146 women with advanced ovarian cancer (stage III or IV ovarian cancer). Ovarian cancer is hard to spot in its earliest, most treatable stages.
Missing Protein Provides Clue To Ovarian Cancer Drug Success, UK
Scientists have discovered a protein which could improve the success rate of the tumour shrinking drug paclitaxel, in the treatment of ovarian cancer, a study reveals in Cancer Cell.
The researchers, funded by Cancer Research UK and the Medical Research Council, found that the loss of a protein called TGFBI caused paclitaxel to fail.
Paclitaxel, part of a family of drugs called taxanes - originally derived from yew trees - is a common chemotherapy treatment for ovarian cancer. However, only 50 per cent of patients respond well to the therapy.
The authors, based at Cambridge Research Institute, at Cambridge University, examined ovarian cancer cell lines and data from 20 patients in a prospective trial. Those who showed no response to the drug had less TGFBI in their pre-treatment samples compared to those whose condition improved.
Photo: Give A Kimmie Cares(TM) Doll This Holiday Season
CINCINNATI, Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kimmie Cares(TM) doll and accompanying book; Mommy and Me...Taking Care of Each Other is a special and thoughtful gift for any child in your life who has a mom or other female relative undergoing treatment for cancer. It helps ease the child's fears and also helps the mother explain cancer therapy and its effects in an uplifting and positive way. To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/kimmiecares/30709/ The holidays are an extremely difficult time for those undergoing treatment for cancer. The normally stressful season can be compounded as the physical and emotional effects caused by both chemotherapy and radiation take their toll. So often those whose lives have been touched by cancer are very uncomfortable talking about it and need help communicating their feelings.
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