Young Min Chung, PhDStanford University Targeting Ovarian Cancer with Combination of Olaparib and Trifluoperazine Dr. Chung is developing innovative therapeutic strategies by combining a clinically used small-molecule drug called trifluoperazine (TFP) and a chemical compound named Olaparib, which is an inhibitor of an enzyme called PARP, to suppress advanced ovarian cancer and to overcome PARP […]
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Fiona Simpkins, MDUniversity of Miami Characterization of Subpopulations Capable of Self-Renewal in Ovarian Cancers Most ovarian cancer patients suffer disease recurrence, and most available chemotherapies are toxic and stop working. Cancer stem cells comprise a subpopulation of cells capable of self-renewal and are resistant to chemotherapy. By characterizing such subpopulations and determining which signaling pathways […]
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John Liao, MD, PhDUniversity of Washington2011 Gilman Family Scholar Development of a Polyepitope DNA Vaccine for Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy While ovarian cancer patients can respond to chemotherapy and achieve remission, the majority of advanced stage patients succumb to recurrent disease. Strategies harnessing the immune system have the potential to augment available therapies, prolong remissions, and […]
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Jian-Jun Wei, MDNorthwestern University MiR-182 Overexpression in Early Tumorigenesis of High Grade Serous Carcinoma High grade papillary serous carcinoma may arise from serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma in the fallopian tube. MiR-182 is a small RNA molecule that is significantly overexpressed in both types of carcinomas. Dr. Wei hypothesizes that miR-182 overexpression is a critical and […]
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Christine Walsh, MDCedars-Sinai Medical Center Genetic Modifiers of BRCA1-Associated Gynecologic Cancer Penetrance Women who inherit a mutation in the BRCA1 gene have a 40% risk of developing ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancer. Dr. Walsh is seeking to shed light on genetic and molecular events that lead to tumor development in some women in this high-risk […]
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Barbara Vanderhyden, PhDOttawa Hospital Research Institute Role of PAX2 in the Etiology of Ovarian and Fallopian Tube Cancers The origins of ovarian cancer are poorly understood but most cancers seem to arise from the surface layer of cells on the ovary or the fallopian tube. Ovarian surface epithelial cells have the ability to develop into […]
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Kavita Shah, PhDPurdue University Chemical Genetic Dissection of Aurora A Kinase in Ovarian Cancer The function of kinases is to turn proteins on and off in cells. Aurora A kinase is one such kinase whose levels increase early in ovarian cancer and are associated with poor prognosis. By identifying the proteins that Aurora A kinase […]
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Janet Sawicki, PhDLankenau Institute for Medical Research Utilizing HuR to Combat Chemotherapeutic Resistance in Ovarian Cancer The molecular basis underlying the range of ovarian cancer patient responses to chemotherapeutic agents is poorly understood. This project will address the urgent need to stratify ovarian cancer patients for therapy and enhance currently available treatment strategies. Recently, Dr. […]
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Lupe Salazar, MDUniversity of Washington Adoptive Transfer of Tumor Specific Th1 Cells Derived from Vaccine-Primed Patients Achieved Clinical Benefits Adoptive immunotherapy can induce cancer regression but rarely results in cure. We have infused HER2-specific Th1 cells in breast cancer patients, and 50% of patients had a partial or complete response to the treatment. Dr. Salazar […]
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Carrie Rinker-Schaeffer, PhDUniversity of Chicago Milky Spot Macrophages: Co-Conspirators in Omental Metastasis Formation No one knows what microenvironmental interactions control ovarian cancer metastasis. Getting this crucial information requires a fresh look from a new perspective. Recently Dr. Rinker-Schaeffer’s lab made a novel connection between ovarian cancer metastatic colonization and structures on the omentum (tissues in […]
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