full access 2008: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Ovarian Cancers: Estimation of Microsatellite-High Frequency and Characterization of Mismatch Repair Deficient Tumor Histology

Translational Relevance:

This systematic review and meta-analysis estimates the frequency of high-level microsatellite instability (MSI-H) in unselected ovarian cancers as 12%, suggesting that defects in the mismatch repair (MMR) pathway account for a relatively large proportion of ovarian cancers. In the era of personalized medicine, MSI-H status may provide valuable etiologic and diagnostic information, which may eventually be of prognostic and therapeutic utility, as seen in MSI-H colorectal cancers.

The results of this meta-analysis also reveal an overrepresentation of nonserous histologies in MMR-deficient tumors. The clinical relevance of these findings is that they may increase clinical awareness of MMR-deficient tumors; such awareness may aid in the identification of this subtype of tumors, having potential implications for medical management.

Primary Ovarian Mucinous Carcinoma of Intestinal Type: Significance of Pattern of Invasion and Immunohistochemical Expression Profile series

Cancers of the breast, uterus, ovary and cervix among Alaska Native women, 1974-2003

The sensitivity and specificity of a new formula to distinguish endometrioid type endometrial carcinoma from ovarian endometrial carcinoma.(Japan)

European Medicines Agency (EMA): the Agency takes a further step in its interaction with patients and consumers | A global voice for patients

REFLECTION PAPER ON THE FURTHER INVOLVEMENT OF PATIENTS AND CONSUMERS IN THE AGENCY’S ACTIVITIES

CA -- eLetters published in the past 365 days

Developing a Quality Screening Colonoscopy Referral System in Primary Care Practice: A Report from the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable --A Cancer Journal for Clinicians

New Joint Outpatient Chemotherapy Administration Standards - Cancer Journal for Clinicians

The guidelines were created largely in response to recent studies that have examined reports of chemotherapy administration errors among outpatients, and to reports of an increased risk of errors with the administration of new oral chemotherapeutics.

Difficulty Accepting a Terminal Prognosis Linked with Depression, Anxiety, and Suffering - A Cancer Journal for Clinicians

Dissenting Opinion:

"Not all clinicians agree with the foregoing interpretations of these findings. "I've certainly seen people who denied dying up to their last breath and somehow never accepted it," Dr. Holland tells CA. "Were they more upset? I'm not sure."
She cautioned against allowing the findings by Dr. Thompson and colleagues to set a tone in which nonaccepting patients are viewed as dysfunctional."

Full access: HER2 overexpression and amplification is present in a subset of ovarian mucinous carcinomas and can be targeted with trastuzumab therapy

full access: Feb 19, 2010 Can primary optimal cytoreduction be predicted in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer preoperatively?

Note: study of 41 women

Q&A: Harvard's Steven Skates Describes Using Clinical Assays for Longitudinal Proteomics Research | ProteoMonitor | Proteomics | GenomeWeb

"Skates is involved in a number of longitudinal studies honing in on early detection for ovarian cancer. In proteomics, such studies are still uncommon.
The three best-known studies that have incorporated proteomics are the Framingham Heart Study, the Busselton Health Study, and the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening, of which Skates is a member."