Research News
Ovarian Cancer Canada funds research into prevention, improved treatments, and ultimately a cure. Science continues to uncover new knowledge that impacts treatment and survival. Here’s how.
As scientists, research trainees, and specialists gathered in Edmonton for the Canadian Conference on Ovarian Cancer Research, women and their families came from near and far to attend a concurrent workshop focused on survivorship. It featured a full day of presentations on promising research as well as practical insights on the journey with this disease.
Yikan Wang receives the inaugural Anita Unruh Prize
Five years ago, Yikan Wang joined the Shah Lab to pursue postdoctoral training at BC Cancer, where she’s just completed a term researching ovarian cancer.
A test called CancerSEEK made recent headlines based on its potential for detecting eight different types of cancer. CancerSEEK represents a new approach, testing blood for certain genes and proteins that could indicate the presence of disease. But current evidence does not support its broad use for cancer screening.
Prior to surgery for ovarian cancer, women who live in specific areas are asked if they would allow collection of biological samples in support of research. If they agree, small amounts of their blood, saliva, cells from healthy ovaries, as well as tissues from tumors will be collected and made available to scientists and physicians studying ovarian cancer.
For years, Dr. Jim Petrik and his lab team at the University of Guelph have focused on improving the quality of tumour blood vessels. While it may sound like this helps the tumour, the approach is showing promise for improved treatment delivery.
Cells adapt to stress in order to survive. When stress comes in the form of starvation, they work to sustain themselves. This response is called autophagy, when cells slowly eat parts of themselves until more nutrients are available. But autophagy can also be hijacked by cancer cells to increase tumour growth and aggressiveness.
For years, it’s been understood that ovarian cancer is not one disease, but a variety of diseases with varying responses to treatment. Now scientists are delving further to look at ovarian cancer in a different way.
Dr. Patricia Tonin recently received the Karen Campbell Award for Research Excellence* at THE LADY BALL, the first in a series of special events being held this year to celebrate fearless women everywhere.
A long-term research study out of the UK called the United Kingdom Familial Ovarian Cancer Screening Study (UKFOCSS) recently published results in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
As recipient of a Teal Heart Scholarship,* Mauricio Medrano has dedicated a great deal of time to learning more about this disease. To date, his research focuses on high-grade serous ovarian cancer, which is the most common subtype. By identifying genes that enable tumours to survive, his work could help inform the development of more effective targeted treatments.