Monday, August 21, 2006
2006 Bevacizumab (Avastin) combination therapy in recurrent, platinum-refractory epithelial ovarian carcinoma: a retrospective analysis
Review:
Cancer. 2006 Jul 1;107(1):83-9.Click here to read Links
Bevacizumab combination therapy in recurrent, platinum-refractory epithelial ovarian carcinoma: A retrospective analysis.
* Wright JD,
* Hagemann A,
* Rader JS,
* Viviano D,
* Gibb RK,
* Norris L,
* Mutch DG,
* Powell MA.
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. wrightj@msnotes.wustl.edu
BACKGROUND: The study was undertaken to determine the safety and efficacy of the monoclonal, antivascular endothelial growth factor antibody bevacizumab in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy for women with platinum-refractory ovarian cancer.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis of women who received bevacizumab in combination with a cytotoxic agent was performed. Response was determined by measurable disease or assessment of serial cancer antigen (CA) 125 measurements.
RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were identified. The patients were heavily pretreated with a median of 7 prior regimens including a median of 3 prior platinum regimens. The combination regimen included cyclophosphamide in 15 (65%), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in 6 (26%), docetaxel in 1 (4%), and gemcitibine/liposomal doxorubicin in 1 (4%). Two (9%) women developed chylous ascites during treatment. CTC Grade 4-5 toxicities occurred in 4 (17%) subjects. Gastrointestinal perforation occurred in 2 (9%) patients. Measurable disease was present in 22. The overall best response rate was 35% and all 8 were partial responses (PRs). Stable disease was found in a further 10 (44%) women, whereas progressive disease was observed in 5 (22%). The median time to progression was 5.6 months in patients with a PR and 2.3 months in subjects with stable disease. Three (13%) women experienced a progression-free interval (PFI) of >6 months. At last follow-up, 8 (35%) subjects had died of disease, whereas 15 (65%) women were alive with disease.
CONCLUSIONS: Combination bevacizumab therapy demonstrated activity in heavily pretreated women with ovarian cancer. Gastrointestinal perforations were identified in 9%. Despite the toxicity of the regimen, prospective studies, particularly in less heavily pretreated patients, are warranted. Copyright 2006 American Cancer Society.
PMID: 16736514 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
2006 Whitby, Ontario - Ovarian Cancer Get Together
Letter of thanks to local business community on behalf of our ovarian cancer community:
Sandi Pniauskas
117 Glen Hill Drive
Whitby, Ontario, Canada L1N 6Z8
tel: 905 668-0767 fax: 905 666-0188
email: sandipn@sympatico.ca
Monday, July 24, 2006
Mr. Craig Gilpin
President
c/o Sobeys Canada
6355 Viscount Road
Mississauga, Ontario
L4V 1W2
Dear Mr. Gilpin:
Re: Ovarian Cancer Community, Whitby, Ont. July 22nd, 2006
On behalf of our ovarian cancer women/carers, may we express our thanks to Janet/Joe Glover (Oshawa); Nick Lucarelli/Tom Theodore (Whitby) and Alan Risk (Retail Stores, Ontario) for their generous donation(s). Your staff, as individuals and members of the community, recognized the significance of this unique event and the positive responses were sincerely appreciated.
Our unique ovarian cancer survivourship event was coordinated solely for and by survivours/carers. Participants included Canada, U.S., England and Australia. Given the success of our event, we have established a new ovarian cancer tradition. Both Chicago (2007) and Annapolis (2008) are now being organized and requests have been made for 2009. The profound sense of accomplishment in recognizing the power of the individual – the human connection was exceptional. Our positive experience with Sobeys staff confirms for us that you are well-represented in this area of human compassion and need.
Please accept and extend our thanks for recognizing and proactively supporting those in our ovarian cancer community(s).
Sincerely;
Sandi Pniauskas
Ovarian Cancer Survivour
cc: Alan Risk
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Thursday, June 01, 2006
May 30th, 2006: Launch of Nation-wide study for early detection of ovarian cancer
CNW Group Portfolio E-Mail
MCGILL UNIVERSITY
MCGILL UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
Transmitted by CNW Group on : May 30, 2006 13:04
Launch of Nation-wide study for early detection of ovarian cancer
MONTREAL, May 30 /CNW Telbec/ - A multidisciplinary team of researchers
from the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), and the universities of
Sherbrooke, Laval, Quebec, McGill and Calgary have launched a multi-centre
study designed for early identification of women at risk of ovarian cancer
(OC).
The study known as "DOVE - Detecting OVarian Cancer Earlier" is the
initiative of gynecological oncologist, Dr Lucy Gilbert of the McGill
University Health Centre (MUHC). Gilbert and a team of gynecological
oncologists, family practitioners, general gynecologists, mathematicians,
epidemiologists and scientists from centres across Canada have combined their
medical expertise to defeat this disease. Although ovarian cancer is
considered "the silent killer", there are numerous studies that show that
women with ovarian cancer are symptomatic but unfortunately because the signs
are vague and non-specific in nature, they are ignored by women and their
doctors.
"Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women and
deadliest of the gynecological cancers" says Dr. Lucy Gilbert, the principal
investigator in the study. "The statistics are alarming and a reliable
assessment tool to detect this disease early and while it is treatable (in
stage 1 of the disease) must be developed without delay. We owe this to women
and the DOVE team is determined to work on achieving this goal," she explains.
Of the 2400 new women diagnosed each year more than 75% will die from the
disease. Four women die per day in Canada from ovarian cancer because most are
diagnosed in the advanced stages of the disease (stages 2 and 3). However, if
the cancer is detected early (at stage 1) more than 80% will survive.
"By the time women present to us with ovarian cancer over 60% are already
at stage three and four - very advanced stages of the cancer" says
gynecological oncologist, Dr. Prafull Ghatage of Calgary's Tom Baker Cancer
Centre. "Even with heroic efforts at surgery followed by the best available
chemotherapy combination we are able to achieve long term survival in only
about 20%".
"Screening women without clearly defined / recognized symptoms is not
recommended by the Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination and
the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force because it results in unnecessary
major surgery and has the potential to do more harm than good", says Dr Michel
Roy of University of Laval. "In the DOVE trial we are working with women who
have indications of OC to clearly profile a cluster of symptoms from the 70 or
so non-specific symptoms that would identify women with a high likelihood of
having the disease", adds Roy who is the president of the 'Regroupement des
Gynécologues-Oncologues du Québec'.
Dr Martin Dawes, Chair of Family Medicine at McGill, and director of
Family Medicine at the MUHC explains, "The challenge for doctors who first see
the patient is to identify those who do need urgent investigations from those
who do not." The Dove study is designed to further ensure that the predictive
tool we recommend to family doctors and general gynecologists profiles ovarian
cancer as precisely as possible, so the system is neither swamped by
over-investigating, nor is there undue delay in identifying women with cancer.
"The only way to defeat this deadly disease is if primary, secondary and
tertiary care services work as real partners', he emphasizes.
Epidemiologists, Dr.Marie-Elise Parent of Institut Armand-Frappier,
University of Quebec, and Dr. James Hanley of McGill University will be
instrumental in ensuring that the predictive tool is refined and tested in
three phases to ensure that it profiles early ovarian cancer as precisely as
possible. "In Phase I we will identify an accurate symptom profile and develop
a reliable diagnostic tool to detect ovarian cancer. In phase II we will
refine and validate this tool and by phase three, we will be able to take the
prediction tool and apply it to the community to fast-track women with
suspected OC", says Dr. Duarte-Franco, the trial coordinator.
In addition to identifying women with OC symptoms early, the Dove trial
will also allow scientists to compare large numbers of cancer patients with
controls, identifying not just the clinical or symptom profiles of women with
ovarian cancer, but also their molecular biology profile. Dr. Michel Tremblay,
Director of the McGill Cancer Centre, and his team will work on identifying
genetic and proteonomic markers that may allow detection of the disease even
before symptoms set in.
About the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC)
The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) is a comprehensive academic
health institution with an international reputation for excellence in clinical
programs, research and teaching. The MUHC is a merger of five teaching
hospitals affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University--the
Montreal Children's, Montreal General, Royal Victoria, and Montreal
Neurological Hospitals, as well as the Montreal Chest Institute. Building on
the tradition of medical leadership of the founding hospitals, the goal of the
MUHC is to provide patient care based on the most advanced knowledge in the
health care field, and to contribute to the development of new knowledge.
For more information on the DOVE study please contact: Dr. Eliane D.
Franco at (514) 398-2278.
-30-
/For further information: Seeta Ramdass, Public Relations &
Communications Coordinator, McGill University Health Centre Public Relations &
Communications Services, (514) 843-1560/
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Media Advisory - McGill/Calgary: Press Conference on Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer
CNW Group Portfolio E-Mail
MCGILL UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTRE
Transmitted by CNW Group on : May 29, 2006 13:43
Media Advisory - Press conference on early detection of ovarian cancer
MONTREAL, May 29 /CNW Telbec/ - A multidisciplinary team of researchers
from the MUHC, and the universities of Sherbrooke, Laval, Quebec and Calgary
announce some important news about women at risk of ovarian cancer (OC).
"Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women and
deadliest of the gynecological cancers," says Dr. Lucy Gilbert, Gynecological
Oncologist of the MUHC. "The statistics are alarming." Of the 2400 new women
diagnosed each year more than 75% will die from the disease. Scientists from
various regions of Canada are combining their expertise to defeat this deadly
disease.
<<
Date: Press Conference: Tuesday May 30, 2006
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: MUHC CUSM, Royal Victoria Hospital, 687, Pine Ave.
(Pine and Peel entrance) Room: Primrose Amphitheatre, F3.10
Who: - Dr. Lucy Gilbert, MUHC Gynecologist-Oncologist
- Dr. Michel Roy, Gynecologist-Oncologist, University of
Laval and President of 'Regroupement des Gynécologues-
Oncologues du Québec'
- Dr. Michel Tremblay, Director of the McGill Cancer Centre
- Dr. Marie-Elise Parent, Epidemiologist, Institut Armand-
Frappier, University of Quebec
>>
MEDIA: For Parking: Please take Pine Ave and Peel entrance, follow the
signs to Pavillon des Femmes / Women's Pavillion. You will be greeted by MUHC
PRC staff in the main lobby of this pavilion (F4) at 9:50 am.
-30-
/For further information: Seeta Ramdass, Public Relations &
Communications Coordinator, McGill University Health Centre Public Relations &
Communications Services, (514) 843-1560/
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Friday, May 19, 2006
2006 Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary: a retrospective multicentre experience of 254 patients with complete surgical staging
Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary: a retrospective multicentre experience of 254 patients with complete surgical staging
http://www.nature.com/bjc/journal/v94/n10/pdf/6603116a.pdf
Is Tumor Immunity the Same Thing As Autoimmunity? Implications for Cancer Immunotherapy
Is Tumor Immunity the Same Thing As Autoimmunity? Implications for Cancer Immunotherapy
Howard L. Kaufman, Jedd D. Wolchok
Columbia University and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
http://www.jco.org/cgi/content/full/24/15/2230?etoc
Importance of Surgical Aggressiveness in Advanced Ovarian Cancer
Giovanni D. Aletti, William A. Cliby
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN
http://www.jco.org/cgi/reprint/24/15/2397.pdf
Aggressive Surgery and Ovarian Cancer
Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 24, No 15 (May 20), 2006: pp. 2395-2396
© 2006 American Society of Clinical Oncology
DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2005.05.4890
http://www.jco.org/cgi/reprint/24/15/2395.pdf
Saturday, May 06, 2006
May 31st FREE seminar - "Ovarian Cancer: What You Need to Know" - seminar
Ovarian Cancer - What You Need to Know
(please share and distribute this notice to others whom might benefit)
Presentations and Discussions by:
Sandi Pniauskas, ovarian cancer survivour/patient advocate
Cathy Chapman, caregiver
Pamela J. West, oncology nurse practiticoner
This presentation is an overview of the basics of Ovarian Cancer and the related risk factors.
sponsored by: Whitby Central Library, Whitby, Ont
Wednesday, May 31st, 2006
7:00 - 10:00 p.m. Meeting Room 1B
Please call 905 668-6531 ext. 2020 to register for this FREE program
Whitby Main Library website (events): http://www.whitbylibrary.on.ca/programs.php?cat=e
"Ovarian Cancer - Plant For Life"
For further information contact: Cathy Chapman: 1-905-579-2170 or cathy_f_chapman@yahoo.com
Ovarian Cancer-Plant for Life
It's a family affair!
Take a 2.5 km walk in Oshawa's Lakeview Park and plant a daffodil along the way to remember someone who touched your life. Bring a friend and the kids - plant for life!
When: Sunday, May 28th, 2006
Where: Lakeview Park, Oshawa, Ontario (starts at Southmead Park)
Time: 9 am - 3 pm
All proceeds go the Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario in support of ovarian cancer
Special thanks for support to: friends, family, Eastdale Collegiate Band and the Co-operators Insurance (Bowmanville, Ontario)
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Stage matters: choosing relevant model systems to address hypotheses in diet and cancer chemoprevention research -- Fenton and Hord 27 (5): 893 -- Car
Stage matters: choosing relevant model systems to address hypotheses in diet and cancer chemoprevention research -- Fenton and Hord 27 (5): 893 -- Carcinogenesis
Abstract:
http://carcin.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/27/5/893
* Carcinogenesis
* Volume 27, Number 5
* Pp. 893-902
Carcinogenesis Advance Access originally published online on February 10, 2006
Carcinogenesis 2006 27(5):893-902; doi:10.1093/carcin/bgi355
This Article
REVIEW
Stage matters: choosing relevant model systems to address hypotheses in diet and cancer chemoprevention research
Jenifer I. Fenton 1, 2, * and Norman G. Hord 2
1 Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program, Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA and 2 Department of Food Science and Department of Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
Clinical evidence reveals that the efficacy of dietary factors to prevent cancer is probably stage-dependent.
The ability to demonstrate stage-specific effects of dietary compounds on normal, preneoplastic and malignant cell models may provide insights into puzzling clinical results from cancer chemoprevention trials. The relevance of these models to the field of cancer prevention is immense and will undoubtedly facilitate the ability to discover which dietary factors are most effective at preventing cancer and which, if any, specific steps in neoplastic transformation render cells refractory to the effects of dietary compounds. There are illustrative examples where exposure of high-risk individuals to dietary chemopreventive agents increases rather than decreases cancer risk. While geneticists and clinical oncologists acknowledge the morphological continuum along which tumors develop in specific tissues, tumor cells, rather than normal and preneoplastic cells, continue to be the primary in vitro reductionist tool employed to elucidate mechanisms underlying disease progression and to investigate the potential utility of dietary as well as other chemopreventive agents. Currently, there are few relevant model systems to study the progression of neoplastic transformation, especially in epithelial cells. We highlight examples of model systems isolated from prostate, breast, endometrial and intestinal tissue, with special emphasis on a specific set of non-tumorigenic, conditionally immortal cell lines derived from C57/BL6 mice [YAMC (Young Adult Mouse Colon cells; Apc+/+) cells and IMCE (Immorto-Min Colonic Epithelium cells; ApcMin/+) cells] that have yielded important information on early events in colorectal neoplasia development. These cell lines are an illustrative example of how researchers can examine stage-dependent effects of specific dietary components on carcinogenesis. The utilization of cell culture systems modeling early, middle and late stages of tumorigenesis will yield important insights into mechanisms by which dietary components impact cancer progression.
Online ISSN 1460-2180 - Print ISSN 0143-3334
Copyright © 2006 Oxford University Press
Oxford Journals Oxford University Press
Friday, April 21, 2006
Society of Gynecologic Oncologists :: New Study Establishes Criteria to Detect Ovarian Cancer Malignancy in Asymptomatic Postmenopausal Women
Society of Gynecologic Oncologists :: New Study Establishes Criteria to Detect Ovarian Cancer Malignancy in Asymptomatic Postmenopausal Women
New Study Establishes Criteria to Detect Ovarian Cancer Malignancy in Asymptomatic Postmenopausal Women
New Study Establishes Criteria to Detect Ovarian Cancer Malignancy in Asymptomatic Postmenopausal Women
PALM SPRINGS, Calif., March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Reporting on the largest study of its kind today at the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists 37th Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer, researchers presented new criteria for detecting ovarian cancer malignancy in postmenopausal asymptomatic women, 55 to 74 years old. Utilizing the new criteria, researchers determined that they could accurately predict 93 percent of the advanced ovarian cancers and 87 percent of the early ovarian cancers in asymptomatic women enrolled in an annual screening program and found to have an abnormal screen..
The study, "Determining the Risk of Ovarian Malignancy in Postmenopausal Women with Abnormal Findings in the PLCO Screening Trial: A Guide for Physicians," was led by Edward E. Partridge, M.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
"Until we have an accurate screening test to identify ovarian cancer in asymptomatic women, we must have guidelines to help doctors evaluate common test abnormalities and detect the malignancy with as much precision as possible," said, Dr. Partridge. "The results of this study are immediately useful for guiding interpretation of ultrasound and CA-125 abnormalities in asymptomatic postmenopausal women."
Early diagnosis of ovarian cancer is vital to reducing mortality. This is the largest prospective cancer screening study to evaluate the risk of malignancy in an exclusively postmenopausal population, ages 55-74, when there are no symptoms. This study is particularly noteworthy because the described screening tests (ultrasound and CA-125) are immediately available to women today.
"The dilemma we face with screening for a disease with low prevalence, like ovarian cancer, is false positive results," commented Dr. Andrew Berchuck, co-director of the Breast/Ovarian Cancer Program of the Duke University Comprehensive Cancer Center. "This study is important because it provides guidelines to better interpret the ultrasound and CA 125 testing we have available. Accurate interpretation of test results could ultimately help to save the lives of postmenopausal women who do not present with symptoms but have ovarian cancer, as well as save women who receive ambiguous results from invasive surgery when there is no real malignancy."
"These new guidelines are a significant step forward in the fight against women's cancers," explained Dr. Partridge. "We hope this will encourage further efforts to validate and refine these criteria in other populations so more women can be properly diagnosed and treated for ovarian cancer."
Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancies, according to the American Cancer Society. Annually, over 22,000 women in the U.S. will develop ovarian cancer and more than 16,000 will die from this disease.
Science Overview
Results from the first three years of The Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trials were reviewed to establish scoring criteria for distinguishing malignant from benign processes. Women enrolled in the study had annual screening for lung, colorectal and ovarian cancer. Although historically a CA-125 level over 35 has been considered abnormal, the authors found that a CA-125 of greater than 65 was the best predictor of ovarian cancer in a postmenopausal asymptomatic woman with an initial abnormal screen. In follow-up screening the following criteria, applied in a hierarchical manner, appear to be accurate at detecting malignancy:
-- CA-125 greater than or equal to 65;
-- Or a CA-125 increase of greater than or equal to 40 points;
-- Or a CA-125 change of greater than or equal to 10 with an ovary/cyst
greater than or equal to 3 cm:
-- Or an ovary/cyst change of > 6.5 cm.
Using the above criteria for a single screen, 15 of the 20 cancers in the initial or baseline screening group (T0) would have been detected. The study found that subsequent annual screenings provided the opportunity to compare current CA-125 levels and/or transvaginal ultrasounds (TVU) findings with the previous screen. Utilizing the above criteria for distinguishing benign from malignant masses in women with more than one screen, doctors would have been able to detect all 29, or 100 percent of the women with invasive cancer.
"Determining the Risk of Ovarian Malignancy in Postmenopausal Women with Abnormal Findings in the PLCO Screening Trial: A Guide for Physicians," was conducted by Edward E. Partridge, M.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL; Robert T. Greenlee, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield, WI; Thomas L. Riley, Information Management Services, Inc., Rockville, MD; Craig Williams, Information Management Services, Inc., Rockville, MD; Lawrence R. Ragard, Westat, Rockville, MD; Jian-Lun Xu, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD; Saundra S. Buys, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT; and Philip C. Prorok, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD.
The 2006 Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer is the premier educational and scientific event for physicians and health care professionals involved in the field of gynecologic oncology and is being held March 22-26 at the Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs, California. For more information visit, http://www.sgo.org/ .
About SGO
The SGO is a national medical specialty organization of physicians who are trained in the comprehensive management of women with malignancies of the reproductive tract. Its purpose is to improve the care of women with gynecologic cancer by encouraging research, disseminating knowledge which will raise the standards of practice in the prevention and treatment of gynecologic malignancies and cooperating with other organizations interested in women's health care, oncology and related fields. The Society's membership is primarily comprised of gynecologic oncologists, as well as other related medical specialists such as, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and pathologists. SGO members provide multidisciplinary cancer care including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, supportive care and surgery. More information on the SGO can be found at http://www.sgo.org/ .
Contact: Jennifer Grunstad
Cell: (312) 282-0627
On-site SGO Annual Meeting Newsroom: (760) 322-8469
Website: http://www.sgo.org/
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
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