Zachary Watson, PhDUniversity of Colorado DenverAurora, CO The influence of bone marrow-derived adipocytes on pro-tumor signaling and lipid metabolism in ovarian cancer Dr. Watson is investigating a potential driver of ovarian cancer development to lay the foundation for discovering new early detection and treatment strategies. Ovarian cancer spreads aggressively into abdominal fat deposits, which often […]
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Carrie House, PhDSan Diego State University Research FoundationSan Diego, CA Role of Macrophages in the Development of Drug-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells Following Chemotherapy Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecological cancer in the United States and is associated with a high rate of recurrence. Unfortunately, tumors that grow back stop responding to chemotherapy and become […]
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Targeting STAT3 Signaling for Immune Checkpoint Blockade to Augment PARP Inhibitor Therapy in BRCA-Mutated Ovarian Cancer PARP inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors are two promising new therapies for ovarian cancer patients who have mutations in the BRCA gene. BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer cells produce a protein called PD-L1 to avoid being recognized and killed by immune […]
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Nerves as novel actors in the tumor microenvironment: the role of exosomes in ovarian cancer tumor innervation Although advances in surgery and chemotherapy for ovarian cancer have improved survival, most women with ovarian cancer will experience recurrence of their disease. Unfortunately, recurrent ovarian cancers respond poorly to chemotherapy and are incurable, highlighting the need for […]
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Hua E Yu, PhDBeckman Research Institute of the City of Hope2020 Karla Mooers Pilot Study Award Targeting dePARylation activates anti-ovarian cancer immune responses The FDA has approved several types of PARP inhibitors for treating ovarian cancer. These drugs are especially effective at killing tumor cells that cannot repair damage that occurs to their DNA. One […]
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Melissa Thompson, PhDUniversity of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center The Role of the Tumor Microenvironment in Ovarian Cancer Progression Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecological cancer, accounting for 15,520 deaths annually. Preliminary studies by Dr. Thompson indicate that the tumor microenvironment enables and promotes tumor progression and chemoresistance, possibly through the expression of SFRP2. With […]
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Kaitlin Fogg, PhDUniversity of Wisconsin The Influence of Macrophages on the Expansion of Ovarian Cancer Metastases Ovarian tumors metastasize or spread by cells detaching from the primary tumor and implanting on nearby organs such as the omentum, an apron-like membrane that insulates the abdominal organs. The factors that lead to the metastases of ovarian tumors are […]
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Kwan Ho Tang, PhDNew York UniversityNew York, NY, United States 2019 Scientific Scholar Award Research in Focus: Novel therapies to treat ovarian cancer Targeting SHP2 and MEK in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer High-grade serous ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological disease. Dr. Tang and colleagues have shown in that a combination treatment of SHP2 inhibitor […]
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Yael Raz Yana, MDCedars-Sinai Medical Center 2019 Cookie Laughlin Scholar Award Studying the Fallopian Tubes of BRCA Mutation Carriers to Understand the Infrastructure for Malignant Transformation Though the majority of ovarian cancer patients are postmenopausal, it is unknown how age and postmenopausal conditions contribute to cancer development. Women with inherited BRCA1 gene mutations are at […]
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Sarah Beth Gitto, PhDUniversity of Pennsylvania2019 Scientific Scholar Award Priming the TME with anti-VEGF to enhance the efficacy of dual checkpoint inhibition in PARPi-resistant OC Recent studies have shown that the use of the PARP inhibitor olaparib increases survival of ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, most patients will become resistant to PARP inhibitors, thus novel treatment strategies […]
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