Xuefang Cao, MD, PhDRoswell Park Cancer Institute Granzyme B-Dependent Regulatory T Cell Function in Ovarian Cancer While effector lymphocytes are known to mediate anti-tumor immune responses, regulatory T cells (Tregs) have recently been found to promote tumor progression in ovarian cancer patients. Perforin and granzyme B are cytotoxic molecules previously known to be utilized by […]
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Resham Bhattacharya, PhDMayo Clinic Therapeutic targeting of Bmi-1 in ovarian cancer While platinum-based drugs continue to be the foundation of therapy for ovarian cancer, chemoresistance remains the main challenge for effective management of recurrent disease. The development of new therapeutic strategies to combat ovarian cancer is needed. This study will examine the therapeutic potential of […]
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Tyler Curiel, MD, MPHUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Improving B7-H1 blockade to treat ovarian cancer Immunotherapy theoretically should be effective for ovarian cancer but only has modest effects because of ovarian cancer-related immune dysfunction. Dr. Curiel will use a well-established pre-clinical mouse model to test rationally designed combinations of agents that […]
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Denise Connolly, PhDFox Chase Cancer Center2015 Pape Family Pilot Award Sensitizing ovarian cancer to PARP inhibition PARP inhibitors are among the most promising class of targeted therapeutics for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Patients with mutations in BRCA genes and some patients with sporadic cancers are particularly sensitive to this class of drugs, presumably because […]
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Jill Slack-Davis, PhDUniversity of Virginia Detailed characterization of tumor initiation in a novel mouse model of high-grade serous ovarian cancer Early detection remains the best approach for successful treatment of cancer, including ovarian cancer, as patients with early stage cancer have the best chance of survival. There is an urgent need to identify specific biomarkers […]
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Iain McNeish, MD, PhD, FRCPUniversity of Glasgow Improved models of high grade serous ovarian cancer To understand how cancers grow and spread within patients, it is essential that researchers have realistic and simple animal models that accurately recreate the mutations seen in the DNA of human cancers. Dr. McNeish will use a new technique, called […]
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Paul Goodfellow, MS, PhDOhio State University Role of BRIP1 helicase missense mutations in ovarian cancer BRIP1 gene has recently been recognized as an ovarian cancer susceptibility gene, based primarily on discovery of mutations that result in a truncated, or shortened, BRIP1 protein that no longer functions properly. Most genetic variation in the BRIP1 gene, however, […]
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Fiona Yull, D.Phil.Vanderbilt University Bromodomain inhibition in ovarian cancer and the tumor microenvironment Scientists are actively working to find new therapies for ovarian cancer as resistance to current therapies, including PARP inhibitors and cisplatin, poses a major problem in the clinic. One promising approach is to develop strategies that activate the patient’s normal immune system […]
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Fiona Simpkins, MDUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Circumventing drug resistance mechanisms in CCNE1 amplified ovarian cancers More than 80% of patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) develop resistance to treatment and eventually succumb to their disease. The need to develop new treatments for this form of ovarian cancer is dire. About 65% of […]
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Hui Zong, PhDUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesville, VA, United States 2019 Pilot Study Award Research in Focus: Prevention of ovarian cancer Efficacy testing for ovarian cancer prevention at pre-malignant stages with a novel mouse model Prevention remains the ultimate goal for successful management of cancer. Identifying cancer prevention strategies is challenging due to the large population required to […]
Read MoreStarting April 1, 2025, the Rivkin Center’s ovarian cancer research funding, global symposium and fundraising activities will continue under the leadership of Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA).
