The UK Cochrane Centre is pleased to announce that we will broadcast the plenary sessions from the Annual Meeting of UK and Ireland-based Contributors to The Cochrane Collaboration live on the internet on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week (details of the speakers are below). The broadcasts will be free to view at www.cochrane.tv. The site does not require a login or any special software. We will also make recordings of the sessions available later.

We are doing this in an effort to improve access to the sessions and we apologise in advance if technical problems mean that it does not work well. However, please be assured that we will be working hard to resolve any problems that arise during the broadcasts.

First plenary from 13.00 to 14.00 GMT on March 2 2010

Chair: Jane Noyes
Director of the Centre for Health-Related Research at Bangor University

The importance of The Cochrane Collaboration.
Tony Jewell, Chief Medical Officer, Welsh Assembly Government

Sense about science
Tracey Brown, Managing Director, Sense About Science

Hunting for snarks: The challenge of getting evidence into guidelines
Fergus Macbeth, Director of the Centre for Clinical Practice, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Second plenary from 13.30 to 15.00 GMT on March 3 2010

Chair: Julian Higgins
Co-Editor, Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions

Addressing reporting bias
Jonathan Sterne, Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol
Co-Convenor, Bias Methods Group

The risk of bias tool
Doug Altman, Director, Centre for Statistics in Medicine; Co-Convenor, Bias Methods Group

Summary of findings tables
Phil Wiffen, Operations and Training Director, UK Cochrane Centre

Including non-randomized studies
Barney Reeves, Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol; Co-Convenor, Non-randomised Studies Methods Group

Incorporating economics
Miranda Mugford, School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia; Chair of Convenors, Campbell and Cochrane Economics Methods Group

The role of qualitative evidence
Jane Noyes, Noreen Edwards Chair in Nursing Research; Director of the Centre for Health-Related Research, Bangor University; Co-Convenor, Qualitative Methods Research Group

How can we improve the quality of reviews?
David Tovey, Editor in Chief, The Cochrane Library 

Pathways to the diagnosis of ovarian cancer in the UK: a cohort study in primary care. J Barrett. 2010; BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology - Wiley InterScience

Correspondence: Defining the surgical management of suspected early-stage ovarian cancer by estimating patient numbers through alternative management

Correspondence: Defining the surgical management of suspected early-stage ovarian cancer by estimating patient numbers through alternative management strategies

refers to original article (abstract):

Defining the surgical management of suspected early-stage ovarian cancer by estimating patient numbers through alternative management strategies

full access:Gynaecological oncology Impact of bowel obstruction at the time of initial presentation in women with ovarian cancer

"This is a small, single institution, retrospective study. The limitations imposed by these attributes have to be borne in mind when interpreting or using the findings of this study."

full access: Surgical training in gastrointestinal procedures within a UK gynaecological oncology subspecialty programme

"Table 4 also includes comparison with the published literature of gynaecological oncologists performing colorectal procedures on women with gynaecological cancers and of colorectal surgeons performing colorectal procedures on women with primary colorectal problems........Previous publications from various countries, including the USA, Australia, Japan, France, Italy, South Africa, Singapore, China and Turkey, show similar rates of performance of gastrointestinal procedures in the management of gynaecological malignancies with similar complication rates."

Recovery Act Funding at NCI - NCI (30 new)

Note: see website for list

Clinical Trials Supported by Accelerating Clinical Trials of Novel Oncologic PathWays (ACTNOW) Initiative

ACTNOW is an early-phase clinical trial program designed to help shorten the time it takes to move new cancer treatments from the discovery phase, to drug development, and, ultimately, to approval and safe use by cancer patients.

The table below lists the ACTNOW trials by cancer type, and contains links to descriptions of the drugs being studied, the trial objectives, patient enrollment criteria, and locations where patients receive treatment. Investigators interested in collaborating on these trials can contact the Study Chair listed on the trial description.

Is the subject of this story going to kill you or cure you? - Gary Schwitzer's HealthNewsReview Blog

Note: see website for the link

Is the subject of this story going to kill you or cure you?
By Gary Schwitzer on February 26, 2010 9:20 AM

There's now a website that actually tracks The Daily Mail of London to categorize its stories as either "kill or cure" stories. The site quotes British physician-author Ben Goldacre: "The Daily Mail, as you know, is engaged in a philosophical project of mythic proportions: for many years now it has diligently been sifting through all the inanimate objects in the world, soberly dividing them into the ones which either cause - or cure - cancer."

Visitors to the site can vote on the stories.

HealthNewsReview.org: Bitter Melon Extract May Slow, Stop Breast Cancer

HealthNewsReview.org | Independent Expert Reviews of News Stories | Holding Health and Medical Journalism Accountable

BBC News - Gene test aid to cancer treatment

"Starting with 829 genes in breast cancer cells, the team whittled down the possibilities to six genes which had an impact on whether a drug worked."

full free access: Clinical relevance of extent of extreme drug resistance in epithelial ovarian carcinoma (repost from Jan 2010)

Note: also note reference materials included in this paper

Patient Advocate Foundation: Co-Pay Relief Patient Center - Home

Patient Advocate Foundation Underinsured Application

Patients and their Families - Patient Safety (Canada)

Note: Selection of different articles

full access: Is no news good news? Inconclusive genetic test results in BRCA1 and BRCA2 from patients and professionals' perspectives

Choice of Management of Southern Chinese BRCA Mutation Carriers.

Research Advocacy Network - Advancing Patient-Focused Research

Now accepting nominations for the Focus on Research class for 2010

Advocates would you like to:

* Have a greater understanding of concepts in oncology research?
* Be able to relate these concepts to specific research results?
* Be more effective in understanding and communicating research results that will change how cancer is treated?

Complete the nomination form today to participate in the Focus on Research class for 2010.
Deadline for receipt of nomination forms to participate in the course is March 25, 2010.

Nomination/Application form:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=lJwbeo8%2f5DVgtGmGhpLHFrbeSxow21GN0tVx5Xoro6c%3d&

INQUIRIES
Questions concerning the Focus on Research program should be addressed to Research Advocacy Network, Elda Railey email: erailey@researchadvocacy.org or by voice message on the Research Advocacy Network central number at 877.276.2187.

Bioethics Forum - Choosing Paternalism?

Note: 2007

"....The article described the case of a 39-year-old patient with ovarian cancer that had metastasized to her liver. She was asked to decide whether to undergo a novel chemotherapy regimen about which five oncologists disagreed. When she asked her doctor what she should do he said he didn’t know, that she would have to make the decision based on her own values. The patient, “bald, tumor-ridden and exhausted from chemotherapy was reeling. ‘I’m not a doctor!’ she shouted, ‘I’m a criminal defense lawyer! How am I supposed to know?’” The story illustrates the frustration, anxiety, and loneliness of being a “modern patient” attempting to cope with medical uncertainty."

Prediagnosis Food Patterns Are Associated with Length of Survival from Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group: Clomiphene citrate for unexplained subfertility in women

Plain English Summary: "Clomiphene citrate for unexplained subfertility in women Clomiphene citrate is a fertility drug that can increase the number of eggs released for possible fertilisation. It is used by women who do not ovulate regularly and by some who do but still have not become pregnant. Clomiphene citrate does not appear to increase the chance of pregnancy in women who ovulate regularly but have failed to conceive after more than a year of unprotected intercourse and so are considered to be subfertile. An associated risk of treatment with clomiphene citrate is a 10% chance of multiple pregnancy. The results of this review of trials should be used with caution due to the heterogeneity between some of the studies."

Management of drainage for malignant ascites in gynaecological cancer

Authors' conclusions:
Since no relevant studies were identified, we are unable to make recommendations regarding the management of drains for malignant ascites in women with gynaecological cancer. Large, multi-centre RCTs are required to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the management of ascitic drains when in situ and their impact on QOL.

Some people just won’t take death for an answer

e-patients blog: "We often talk here about empowered patients’ struggles to get – or even create – the care they need. Usually we’re talking about it in a medical sense. But as far too many people know, sometimes there are other obstacles. Laurie Todd is, to me, an outstanding example of someone who wouldn’t take death for an answer – neither from doctors....."

CK7, CK20, CDX2 and MUC2 Immunohistochemical Staining Used To Distinguish Metastatic Colorectal Carcinoma Involving Ovary from Primary Ovarian Mucinous Adenocarcinoma

Objective: Colorectal adenocarcinoma, the most common tumor that metastasizes to the ovary, is often difficult to distinguish from primary ovarian mucinous adenocarcinoma (POMA). Obtaining the correct diagnosis is difficult but crucial to treatment and prognosis.

new book: Editor's comment (Jason Marsh) "The Compassionate Instinct": Uncovering the New Science of Human Goodness

"Taken together, this research challenges some long-held notions about human nature, revealing that the good in us is just as intrinsic to our species as the bad. Empathy, gratitude, compassion, altruism, fairness, trust, and cooperation, once thought to be aberrations from the tooth-and-claw natural order of things, are actually core features of primate evolution.
For too long a view of humans has prevailed that assumes we are wired to compete, to act aggressively, to pursue unbridled self-interest. These are no doubt facets of human nature, but they represent only half of the story.
"The Compassionate Instinct" reveals another story, one that places goodness at the center of human nature. The book doesn't deny the existence of the violence and selfishness we see in the world around us. But it offers scientific evidence that another world is possible."

full free access: (McGill University) Assessing the accuracy of an inter-institutional automated patient-specific health problem list

full access: Association of shared decision-making with type of breast cancer surgery

press release: Precision Therapeutics- Chemosensitivity/Resistance Assay Included as Part of the NCCN Principles of Chemotherapy - MarketWatch

Note: as per just published NCCN guidelines 2/2010 Ovarian Cancer section (read the guidelines for further explanation) http://www.nccn.org

Laboratory Product News: Manhattan Scientifics Acquires Exclusive Rights to Nanomedicine Technology for Early Cancer Detection and Treatment

"Manhattan Scientifics Inc. (OTCBB: MHTX), a nanomedicine technology transfer and commercialization pioneer, today announced completion of its agreement to acquire all commercial rights to the body of work of nuclear physicist Edward R. Flynn, PhD and his company, Senior Scientific LLC. The breakthrough technology focuses on the emerging field of nanomedicine, with an emphasis on the early detection and localization of cancer and other diseases, and providing image-guided therapy for treatment."Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed. Early detection of cancer can be critical to effective treatment. For example,

Genomics - Funding 2010 CDC and NIH New Genomics Funding Opportunity Announcement

Systematic evidence reviews will examine the validity and utility of various health-related genomic tests (e.g., DNA, RNA, and proteomic tests; family health history tools; other health-related genomic services), including information on contextual factors and ethical, legal, and social issues. These evidence reviews will be conducted using the methods developed by the Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention (EGAPP™) Working GroupExternal Web Site Icon and CDC. Some of these reviews will be used by the EGAPP™ Working Group to make recommendation statements on the use of the genomic tests and other services.

The center will collaborate with CDC to develop brief evidence summaries (topic briefs) on the validity and utility of selected genomic applications and related issues.

Evidence reviews and topic briefs, along with recommendation statements and other resources, will be made publicly available in an online knowledge repository. This repository is being developed by NOPHG, NIH’s National Cancer InstituteExternal Web Site Icon, and the National Center for Biotechnology InformationExternal Web Site Icon of the National Library of MedicineExternal Web Site Icon and will be released later this year.

EvidenceUpdates: Comparative effectiveness of MRI in breast cancer (COMICE) trial: a randomised controlled trial

Note: includes commentaries

CBC News - Health - Hospitals aim to resterilize, cut waste

Hospitals can resterilize some devices for reuse and cut waste: researchers

Northwestern Memorial's Integrative Oncology Program aims to ease pain and help patients manage cancer

The European Medicines Agency is in Overall Agreement with OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals' Development Plan for OGX-011 - financial news

"Since increased clusterin production is observed in many human cancers, including prostate, non-small cell lung, breast, ovarian, bladder, renal, pancreatic, anaplastic large cell lymphoma and colon cancers and melanoma, OGX-011 may have broad market potential to treat many cancer indications and disease stages."

California health insurers subpoenaed in rate probe | Reuters

updated (annual) February 2010: NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology

Note: the NCCN website requires registration/password but is free. It is an excellent resource for ovarian cancer(s) as well as genetic syndrome guidelines.

Page 4 indicates changes over prior guidelines.

Genentech Announces Positive Results of Avastin Phase III Study in Women with Advanced Ovarian Cancer

In the three-arm study, known as Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) 0218, women with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer who already had surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible were randomized to receive one of the following:

-- Arm 1: Placebo in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy followed by placebo alone, for a total of up to 15 months of therapy

-- Arm 2: Avastin in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy followed by placebo alone, for a total of up to 15 months of therapy

-- Arm 3: Avastin in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy followed by the maintenance use of Avastin alone, for a total of up to 15 months of therapy.

The study showed that women who continued maintenance use of Avastin alone, after receiving Avastin in combination with chemotherapy (Arm 3), lived longer without the disease worsening compared to those who received chemotherapy alone. Women who received Avastin in combination with chemotherapy, but did not continue maintenance use of Avastin alone (Arm 2), did not live longer without the disease worsening compared to chemotherapy alone.

Ontario, Canada: Hospitals: Public consultations needed - Welland Tribune - Ontario, CA

"It's up to a lobby group to bring democracy to discussions about changes to Ontario's hospitals.

That's because the provincial government refuses to do so, said Ontario Health Coalition executive director Natalie Mehra. Despite repeated requests to the Ministry of Health, asking that its public Rural and Northern Health Care Panel hold public consultations, Mehra said the government has "refused to hold public consultations."

She said the government's panel will only be consulting with select organizations including Ontario Hospital Association, the Ontario Medical Association, Registered Nurses Association of Ontario and an emergency medical service organization.

"There's not a single patient group, no municipality, no seniors group, or advocacy groups, or public interest groups, nobody," she said in an interview Tuesday....."

Myriad press release: New Study Finds 41% of Patients at Community Oncology Practices Were at Risk for Hereditary Breast/Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer survival rates up - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Avastin performs in ovarian cancer trial - news item

Medical News: Minimally Invasive Surgery Takes Toll on MDs,

Outcomes after conservative treatment of advanced-stage serous borderline tumors of the ovary.

"Eighteen pregnancies (nine spontaneous) were observed in 14 patients."

Aberrant expression of p27(Kip1)-interacting cell-cycle regulatory proteins in ovarian clear cell carcinomas and their precursors with special consideration of two distinct multistage clear cell carcinogenetic pathways.

"These data suggest that accumulated alterations of p27(Kip1)-interacting proteins may accelerate the development of CCAs regardless of their carcinogenetic pathways, but that tumor cells in the CCAF-associated pathway appear to show slower cell-cycle progression than those in the endometriosis-associated pathway, possibly accounting for the distinct clinicopathological features of the two CCA subtypes."

full access: DNA Methylation Profiles of Ovarian Epithelial Carcinoma Tumors and Cell Lines

Table 1

Histology and clinical characteristics of primary ovarian tumors. (serous, endometrioid, clear cell - CA125 levels, menopausal status,patient age)

Background

Epithelial ovarian carcinoma is a significant cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide and in the United States. Epithelial ovarian cancer comprises several histological subtypes, each with distinct clinical and molecular characteristics. The natural history of this heterogeneous disease, including the cell types of origin, is poorly understood.

Occult ovarian cancers identified at risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy in a prospective cohort of BRCA1/2 mutation carriers.

"An unacceptably high proportion of pathologic examinations did not adequately examine ovaries and fallopian tubes obtained at RRSO."

2009 Safety of Bevacizumab in Advanced Ovarian and Müllerian Cancers: A Review: Bevacizumab (Avastin) and Ovarian Cancer

"To date, several investigators (Table 1) have explored bevacizumab as a single agent or in combination with metronomic chemotherapy in the management of advanced ovarian cancer. All studies to date with bevacizumab as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy have shown promising responses...."

abstract: Combined oral cyclophosphamide and bevacizumab in heavily pre-treated ovarian cancer (Spain)

Conclusions: Combined bevacizumab and metronomic oral cyclophosphamide is a safe and effective regimen for heavily pre-treated ovarian cancer patients. Further research is needed on predictive factors to screen for those patients who will benefit from anti-angiogenic therapy.

2008 Phase II clinical trial of bevacizumab and low-dose metronomic oral cyclophosphamide in recurrent ovarian cancer: a trial of the California, Chic

Phase II clinical trial of bevacizumab and low-dose metronomic oral cyclophosphamide in recurrent ovarian cancer: a trial of the California, Chicago, and Princess Margaret Hospital phase II consortia.

Bevacizumab and Low-Dose Cyclophosphamide in Treating Patients With Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial or Primary Peritoneal Cancer - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov

Bevacizumab and Low-Dose Cyclophosphamide in Treating Patients With Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial or Primary Peritoneal Cancer
This study has been completed.
First Received: November 4, 2003 Last Updated: February 6, 2009

Sponsor: California Cancer Consortium
Collaborator: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Information provided by: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00072566

(2005) Bevacizumab (Avastin) combined with low-dose chemotherapy slows ovarian cancer (Cyclophosphamide )

full access: PLoS ONE: An Optimized Pentaplex PCR for Detecting DNA Mismatch Repair-Deficient Colorectal Cancers (LynchSyndrome)

Note: technical paper

Cancer and the Family: The Silent Words of Truth -- JCO The Art of Oncology series

INCONCLUSIVE THOUGHTS: One of the aims of psycho-oncology is to explore, clarify, and accept different realities that are alluded to in the unspoken words of the family narrative, while also eliciting family stories of survival, adjustment, mutuality, belief, and hope. The psycho-oncologist is trained to understand the language of the patient and family members in their subjective appraisals of health and illness and then to encourage them to share their truths about being understood, heard, supported, and emboldened or discredited and stigmatized.

Ephraim McDowell - Wikipedia encyclopedia Ephraim McDowell (November 11, 1771 – June 25, 1830) was an American physician. He was the first to success

Ephraim McDowell (November 11, 1771 – June 25, 1830) was an American physician. He was the first to successfully remove an ovarian tumor.

Clinical Activity of Gemcitabine Plus Pertuzumab in Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer, Fallopian Tube Cancer, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer - abstract

Conclusion: Pertuzumab may add activity to gemcitabine for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Low HER3 mRNA expression may predict pertuzumab clinical benefit and be a valuable prognostic marker.

abstract: Decision Model of Segmental Compared With Total Abdominal Colectomy for Colon Cancer in Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (Lynch Syndrome)

JCO - Relationship Between Plasma Estradiol Levels and Estrogen-Responsive Gene Expression in Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women UK/US study

Purpose To determine whether plasma estradiol (E2) levels are related to gene expression in estrogen receptor (ER)–positive breast cancers in postmenopausal women.

Editorial: Whither HER2-Related Therapeutics? (breast cancer) -- Journal of Clinical Oncology

Note: references to solid tumours

"Evidence suggests that most solid tumors, regardless of their type, cannot grow beyond approximately 1 mm3 until they establish a blood supply by inducing new blood vessels from existing host capillaries, called tumor-induced angiogenesis......It follows then that tumor cells with low HER3 mRNA are more likely to respond to pertuzumab, given that these are the cells where the pathway is activated. We would conjecture that this signature does not apply exclusively in ovarian cancer, but may also be found in other solid tumors, such as non–HER2-positive breast, colorectal, and so on."

(U.S.) NIH and FDA Announce Collaborative Initiative to Fast-track Innovations to the Public Feb 24, 2010 News Release - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

(U.S.) Information on Life after Cancer Now Available on NIHSeniorHealth.gov Feb 24, 2010 News Release - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study to Refine Management Recommendations for Women at Elevated Familial Risk of Breast Cancer: The EVA Trial.

CONCLUSION: In women at elevated familial risk, quality-assured MRI screening shifts the distribution of screen-detected breast cancers toward the preinvasive stage. In women undergoing quality-assured MRI annually, neither mammography, nor annual or half-yearly ultrasound or CBE will add to the cancer yield achieved by MRI alone.

Surgery protocols reviewed at Windsor hospitals

A nightmare!

The Patient Factor: What Are Your Health Care Dollars Buying? | thepatientfactor.com

"Asking Canadians if they are getting value for their money when it comes to spending on health care is like asking a blind person if they can see better when the room light is turned on or off...."

The Patient Factor: (Canada) Blowing the Whistle on Patient Safety: Why Patients Need to Speak Out

"Patient safety is a hot topic in Canada and one that often leaves our politicians scrambling to maintain some semblance of action. They do so by creating more federal, provincial and territorial agencies and programs. Many of these government-funded initiatives are set-up as independent (arm’s length) non-profit organizations. Perhaps the biggest endeavour to date is the creation of the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI)...."

U.S. FDA Announces New Safety Plan for Agents Used to Treat Chemotherapy-Related Anemia

Long-term endometrial effects in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer participating in the Intergroup Exemestane Study (IES)—a randomised controlled trial of exemestane versus continued tamoxifen after 2–3 years tamoxifen

full access:
Conclusion: Switching from tamoxifen to exemestane significantly reverses endometrial thickening associated with continued tamoxifen.

free access: Impact of Medical Qigong on quality of life, fatigue, mood and inflammation in cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial - Australia

Unfortunately, most research evaluating Qigong has suffered from a lack of appropriate randomization and utilization of control groups. Studies have also tended to focus on limited numbers of biological and physical outcomes.

ThirdAge - health/wellness

Molecular Methods For Classifying Breast Cancer Patients Produce Inaccurate And Inconsistent Results, Says Leading UK Researcher

Cancer Institute Of New Jersey Strengthens Hospital Network

Drugmakers Join Forces to Improve Cancer Research - Press Release/news

INDIANAPOLIS, WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. & NEW YORK--Eli Lilly and Company, Merck (also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) outside the USA and Canada), and Pfizer Inc. today announced the formation of the Asian Cancer Research Group, Inc., (ACRG), an independent, not-for-profit company established to accelerate research and ultimately improve treatment for patients affected with the most commonly-diagnosed cancers in Asia.

Intraperitoneal Paclitaxel as Consolidation Treatment in Ovarian Cancer Patients: A Case Control Study

Conclusion: Weekly IP consolidation chemotherapy with paclitaxel 60 mg/mq is well tolerated and, in this experience, a prolongation of progression-free survival was observed.

YouTube - Consider Your Heart During Cancer Treatment

JAMA -- Front-of-Package Food Labels: Public Health or Propaganda

Financial news - Prima BioMed raises $2.5m for ovarian cancer vaccine - Australia

Financial news: HealthLinx Ltd launches ovarian cancer OvPlex™ test into UK market

HealthLinx (ASX: HTX) has reported that UK distribution partner Intus Healthcare is targeting a significant share of the potential 750,000 annual ovarian cancer diagnostic tests undertaken in the UK with the product launch of OvPlex™ on 25 February 2010.
The company obtained European Certification for OvPlex™ paving the way to market and sell the product within the European community.

EvidenceUpdates: rTMS for suppressing neuropathic pain: a meta-analysis

Safety profile of new anticancer drugs; Expert Opinion on Drug Safety - abstract (solid tumors)

Take home message: The emergence of new targeted anticancer therapies promises more efficient and less toxic therapies. Generally, they are well tolerated, toxicities are commonly mild to moderate and can be handled rapidly. However, if most of these adverse events are manageable, life threatening and fatal complications can still occur.

Toxicity of sorafenib: clinical and molecular aspects; Expert Opinion on Drug Safety - abstract

Take home message: Although not life-threatening, toxicity of sorafenib can severely impact the physical, psychological and social well-being of patients. The management of this unusual toxicity highlights the particular need of new pluridisciplinarities linking oncologist, cardiologist and dermatologist

Drug interactions with antiretrovirals and warfarin; Expert Opinion on Drug Safety - abstract

Importance of the field: Antiretroviral therapy exhibits significant potential to alter the metabolism of other medications. Warfarin is widely used for the management of clotting disorders and is prone to drug–drug interactions that can result in subtherapeutic anticoagulation or over-anticoagulation. (warfarin, HIV, antiretroviral, drug interaction, protease inhibitor (PI), non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), cytochrome P450 (CYP450), CYP2C9)

blog: Health for All!: The Robin Hood Tax: Turning a Crisis for the Banks into an Opportunity for the World

CLINICAL TRIALS IN CANADA Optimizing Patient Participation in a Global Market April 29 - 30, 2010 Montréal

Note: the conference fees

NCI Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy

"For preventing the onset of CIPN, the committee recommended further clinical testing of intravenous calcium and magnesium, which reduced CIPN symptoms by approximately half compared with a placebo in one trial

Free Full-Text: Targeted Therapies in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer - UK

Newfoundland lab to retest 235 patients - The Globe and Mail

Evaluating Correlation and Interrater Reliability for Four Performance Scales in the Palliative Care Setting

YouTube - Tom Brokaw Explains Canada To Americans

Unintended Hepatic Adverse Events Associated with Cancer Chemotherapy - Toxicologic Pathology

Avastin fails stomach-cancer trial - FiercePharma

"Data on Avastin use in ovarian cancer, expected sometime in the first half of this year."

Ovarian cancer diagnoses drop slightly

Note: prophylatic surgeries??

"Dr Zorbas said the figure had remained "fairly stable" for years and the lower level could represent the start of a new plateau, though the reason for the small drop was not yet clear......."The number of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer is expected to increase, and that's because the population is increasing and we have an increasingly ageing population," Dr Zorbas told AAP."

JCO Editorial: Early Diagnosis of Hereditary Breast Cancer by Magnetic Resonance Imaging: What Is Realistic?

Carboplatin—gemcitabine in the therapy of advanced ovarian cancer: dose reduction consideration

Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy - ESGO

Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy - ESGO
Note: this is a video of an actual surgery

ESGO - European Society of Gynaecological Oncology

ESGO - European Society of Gynaecological Oncology

NursingCenter – Focus On: Nursing Ethics

Coronary heart disease risk profile in women who underwent salpingo-oophorectomy to prevent hereditary breast ovarian cancer.

CONCLUSIONS: Self-selection of women seeking risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy, changes in lifestyle after surgery, and survival bias may explain that the women who underwent risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy had a more favorable coronary heart disease risk profile compared with the controls. Longitudinal studies are needed to further clarify the associations observed in this cross-sectional study.

Ovarian intestinal type mucinous borderline tumors: are we ready for a nomenclature change?

Note: mucinous is not specific to ovarian cancer but found in other tumour sites and without expert pathology can be confused with mucinous gastrointestinal tumours

"At a National Cancer Institute-sponsored workshop it was proposed that the borderline category of ovarian intestinal-type mucinous tumors (OInMTs) could be eliminated if the apparent benign behavior of these tumors could be confirmed..."

Randomized phase II trial of paclitaxel plus carboplatin therapy versus irinotecan plus cisplatin therapy as first-line chemotherapy for clear cell ad

Randomized phase II trial of paclitaxel plus carboplatin therapy versus irinotecan plus cisplatin therapy as first-line chemotherapy for clear cell adenocarcinoma of the ovary: a JGOG study CONCLUSIONS: A phase III randomized trial is required to elucidate the effectiveness of CPT-P combination chemotherapy for CCC

Final Agenda: Health 2.0 Europe conference (note: ACOR)

Patients and Online Communities - The advancement and popularity of patient communities online is an international phenomenon. We’ll be examining communities in different cultures, languages and context, and see what impact they have on care delivery in different countries–and what the internationalization of information means for patients and doctors.
The patient perspective from:

• Roberto Ascione, PagineMediche.it Italy
• Gilles Frydman, ACOR america
• Ben Heywood, PatientsLikeMe america
• Neil Bacon, iWantGreatCare UK
• Christian Angele, imedo Germany

full access: Progress in Cancer Care: A Rational Call To Do Better -- A Cancer Journal for Clinicians

A major challenge recognized by the general public and the medical and cancer research community is that advances in medical, surgical, and radiation therapies have had more impact on some cancer types than others.

BRCA1 gene mutations may explain more than 80% of excess number of ovarian cancer cases after breast cancer – a population based study from the Western Sweden Health Care region; Acta Oncologica

Risk of cardiac ischemia and arterial thromboembolic events with the angiogenesis inhibitor Bevacizumab in cancer patients: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

abstract

Erythropoietic stimulating agents

Ultrasound-mediated gene delivery; Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery - (ultrasound microbubble technology)

Genetics and Cancer - Ovarian Cancer and Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colon Cancer (HNPCC) now known as Lynch Syndrome

Clinical Presentation of Endometrioid Epithelial Ovarian Cancer with Concurrent Endometriosis: A Multicenter Retrospective Study — Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention

Conclusions: In this large series of patients with EEOC, the main presenting symptoms were pelvic pain followed by gastrointestinal symptoms, palpable mass, abdominal distension, vaginal bleeding, and newly developed or exacerbated dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia. Dyspareunia and dysmenorrhea were more frequently detected in patients with endometriosis. Normal CA-125 levels cannot be applied as a marker to exclude EEOC, particularly at the early stages. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(2); 398–404

Researchers Find the Genetic Fingerprint of Cancer, 1 Patient at a Time Discover Magazine

Your Doc Is In: North American Menopause Society Issues Guidelines on Hormone Therapy

Note: The actual guidelines will be published in the March/April issue of the Journal of the North American Menopause Society

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."

CBC News - Windsor - Proactive patients help avoid hospital errors

Regular Aspirin Use Lowers the Risk of Developing Ovarian Cancer (note cautions)

PLoS Genetics: Use of DNA–Damaging Agents and RNA Pooling to Assess Expression Profiles Associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutation Status in Familial Breast Cancer Patients

definition: heterogeneous - the quality of being diverse and not comparable in kind

full access:

"A large number of rare sequence variants of unknown clinical significance have been identified in the breast cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2. Laboratory
methods to identify which of these variants are mutations would have utility for counseling and clinical decision making when identified in patients with a family history of
breast cancer."

clinical trial search - new trials 2/01/2010-2/19/2010 - solid tumors phase 11-111

Search terms: solid tumors | Adult | Phase II III IV | has safety issue outcome measures | received from 02/01/2010 to 02/19/2010 - 2

Search of: ovarian cancer | received from 02/01/2010 to 02/19/2010 - List Results - ClinicalTrials.gov

Search terms: ovarian cancer, received between the dates of 02/01/2010 to 02/19/2010 - 8 results

2010 North American Menopause Society Issues Guidelines on Hormone Therapy

Seeking Patient Feedback: An Important Dimension of Quality in Cancer Care.

A pilot study using the Gynecologic Cancer Lymphedema Questionnaire (GCLQ) as a clinical care tool to identify lower extremity lymphedema in gynecologic cancer survivors

California limits appointment wait times - - ModernMedicine

YouTube - Insidermedicine In Depth - February 8, 2010 - combination Paxil/Tamoxifen + clinical commentary

Correspondence/Reply: Central Institutional Review Board–Facilitated Review Metrics Omit Critical Components

1) CORRESPONDENCE
Central Institutional Review Board–Facilitated Review Metrics Omit Critical Components
Michael S. Katz, Mary L. Smith
Patient Representative Committee, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, Philadelphia, PA

To the Editor:

"As cancer survivors and patient advocates, we must take issue with calculations of the impact of the central institutional review board (CIRB) on local institutional review board (IRB) protocol review times and societal costs by Wagner et al.1 The authors' definitions of these metrics omit critical components......Thus, the net impact on IRB review times, which determine how quickly a protocol can move from National Cancer Institute approval to putting patients on-study are actually slower by 66 to 76 days than a stand-alone local review. The suggestion, therefore, that there are "benefits of a more predictable and faster approval process" is not accurate.""

2) CORRESPONDENCE - Reply to M.S. Katz et al 

"Recent internal data from National Cancer Institute show that these changes have decreased the length of CIRB review, defined as application receipt to approval, from a median of 95.5 days in 2008 to 45 days for the six trials using the new processes."

Author's Reply to Correspondence: Endocrine Effects of Aromatase Inhibitors Journal of Clinical Oncology

" It is somehow astonishing that after approximately 15 years from the first clinical article on anastrozole, exemestane, and letrozole, we still have insufficient or weak knowledge of some of the consequences of their long-term use."

Correspondence: Endocrine Effects of Aromatase Inhibitors Journal of Clinical Oncology

Patient Opinion - NHS (UK) website

Your story can change the NHS * Tell people what happened * See what others are saying * Find out how patients are changing the NHS

Quest, Vermillion 'On Track' to Launch OVA1 in March | GenomeWeb

"OVA1 generates a numerical score based on five immunoassays that is intended to help physicians determine the likelihood of malignancy in women with pelvic mass for whom surgery is planned."

Integrative Oncology: Gerson Regimen

HDAC Inhibitors in Cancer Care - Cancer Network

"What is more promising about this study was the utility in all of the cancers studied (ovarian, cervical, breast, testicular, and lung), demonstrating that combining HDAC inhibitors with other therapies may be clinically useful in multiple types of malignancies."

HDAC Inhibitors: Much to Learn About Effective Therapy - Cancer Network

US Oncology picks up Cure magazine - Medical Marketing and Media

Cure magazine is located on the web at www.curetoday.com

in research: Tiny sensor may lead to home cancer detection kits

Tumour Microenvironment The ‘low oxygen’ environment of solid tumours is leading to a new class of therapies and Measuring Tumour Hypoxia and Tumour Metabolism

Tumour Microenvironment The ‘low oxygen’ environment of solid tumours is leading to a new class of therapies and Measuring Tumour Hypoxia and Tumour Metabolism

Understanding what feeds a tumor: Back to the future Part 2 video

What Feeds a Tumor? Targeting the Tumor Blood Supply Part 1 video

Understanding what feeds a tumor: Back to the future Part 2 video

Understanding what feeds a tumor: Back to the future Part 1 video

Tumour Microenvironment The ‘low oxygen’ environment of solid tumours is leading to a new class of therapies - 4 videos

Muslim women and medical students in the clinical encounter Medical Education

Medical Education 2010: 44 : 306–315
"Context Increasingly, male medical students report being refused by female patients, particularly in obstetrics and gynaecology, which is impacting on recruitment into the discipline. However, little has been documented in terms of Muslim patients and medical students in the clinical consultation."

Burnout and engagement among resident doctors in the Netherlands: a national study.

Conclusions: "As more than a fifth of the medical residents who responded could be diagnosed as suffering from burnout, we conclude that this problem needs addressing in the Dutch health care system, especially given that a relationship was proven between burnout and suboptimal patient care."

Variation at 8q24 and 9p24 and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer

"Abstract: The chromosome 8q24 region (specifically, 8q24.21.a) is known to harbor variants associated with risk of breast, colorectal, prostate, and bladder cancers. In 2008, variants rs10505477 and rs6983267 in this region were associated with increased risk of invasive ovarian cancer (p < 0.01); however, three subsequent ovarian cancer reports of 8q24 variants were null.........These results indicate that the SNPs studied here are not related to risk of this gynecologic malignancy and that the site-specific nature of 8q24.21.a associations may not include ovarian cancer."

Vitamin D: Considerations in the Continued Development as an Agent for Cancer Prevention and Therapy

Comment regarding Pelvic Exams while under Anesthesia

My comment: While Lynn's abstract is interesting, it is noteworthy again that these are not new issues as per the included references. I would disagree that further research is required. A root cause analysis is not going to add anything further to what has already been demonstrated. It is now a matter of policy.

“Come here. I want you to feel a normal rectum. Do it.”

Disposition of soy isoflavones in normal human breast tissue - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Background: Despite decades of research on the relation between soy and breast cancer, questions regarding the absorption, metabolism, and distribution of isoflavones in breast tissue largely remain unanswered.

Revisiting biographical disruption: Exploring individual embodied illness experience in people with terminal cancer

"Biographical accounts of illness offer useful insights into the social and adaptive processes of living with chronic illness. Yet there are concerns that the underlying theoretical assumptions of a reflexive self seeking to maintain meaning may not reflect the lived experience of individuals....We discuss the possibilities for new approaches to clinical assessment and management of need."

Ontario Hospital Association Response to Registered Nurses Association of Ontario Commentary on Physician Assistants

short video - inclusionary Should science be more democratic?

video regarding Competition/Science Policy

Research programs & studies - Cancer Prevention Institute of California

Research programs & studies
Studies of ovarian cancer

* Comorbidity and treatment for ovarian cancer / Survival following ovarian cancer

* Diet and risk of ovarian cancer

* Follow-up Care Us by Survivors (FOCUS study)

* Genetic epidemiology of ovarian cancer

Home page - Cancer Prevention Institute of California

The Most Outrageous Examples Of Health Insurers Denying Coverage - Huffington Post

"We compiled a list of some of the worst cases of insurance companies denying sick customers access to medical care. Check them out below -- and if you've been denied coverage, click "Participate" and tell us your story."

Can Catumaxomab Keep Away Ovarian Cancer? Video

Note: and adorable baby puppies

obituary/author: Karen Buhler-Wilkerson (ovarian cancer) nursing professor

"Karen Buhler-Wilkerson, 65, of Center City, who retired in 2006 as a professor of community health at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, died Saturday at the university hospital of complications from ovarian cancer. The author of three books, Dr. Buhler-Wilkerson wrote her last paper, "Living With Cancer," with her life partner of 17 years, Dr. Neville Strumpf, for publication this summer in the quarterly journal Nursing Clinics of North America."

No clear evidence for universal supplementation -- Vitamin D

Disrupted lives and threats to identity: The experiences of people with colorectal cancer within the first year following diagnosis -- Hubbard et al. 14 (2): 131 -- Health:

Note: It's very unfortunate that this is not full access as it would apply across cancer domains.

"We conclude that universal application of the concept biographical disruption to the experience of cancer within the first year of diagnosis is not appropriate. This study has implications for cancer services, in particular, the findings call for the development of interventions to support those people who experience cancer as an assault on their identity."

Beyond the black box: drug- and device-associated hypersensitivity events

ONCOPET cancer test for companion animals

Genome study shows what cancers have in common - news item

"The finding, based on a large-scale study of the genetic make-up of 26 different types of cancers, suggests cancer has less to do with where in the body it occurs, and more to do with the genetic changes that cause it to grow......What that means for treatment is that many treatments may be used across many different kinds of cancers."

Ovarian Cancer Pathogenesis: A Model in Evolution

Directory of open access journals

Directory of open access journals

full access: Estrogen receptor positive breast cancers in BRCA1 mutation carriers: clinical risk factors and pathologic features

The cost-effectiveness of genetic testing strategies for Lynch Syndrome (U.S.)

Coherence and Completeness of Population-based Family Cancer Reports

Conclusions: These findings suggest that family history of cancer reports from the general population are generally complete and coherent.

Identification of Ovarian Cancer Symptoms in Health Insurance Claims Data

Conclusions:
"These results support previous findings that ovarian cancer symptoms were reported in health insurance claims and were more prevalent before diagnosis, but the symptoms may occur too close to the diagnosis date to provide useful diagnostic information. The passive screening approach should be reevaluated in the future using electronic medical records; if found to be effective, the method may be potentially useful for other incident diseases."

If only WHI was done well -- BMJ (Drug firm conflicting interests)

"Barrington claims that the women’s health initiative (WHI) trial had impeccable standards.1 We recently highlighted some of its shortcomings relating to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The data and safety monitoring board used a global index of health which was modified on three occasions...."

Fluorescent probes light up cancerous tumors

In research:
"In a series of studies, working mainly in mice with implanted human tumors, the researchers showed that if tumors had spread to surrounding tissue, the ACCP-nanoparticle probes enabled them to visualize areas of tumors that they wouldn't ordinarily see -- either because the tissue was buried beneath other tissue or the tumor simply was difficult to distinguish from normal tissue."

Main Page - WikiGenetics

FDA Announces New Safety Plan for Agents Used to Treat Chemotherapy-Related Anemia

WHI Study Data Confirm Short-Term Heart Disease Risks of Combination Hormone Therapy for Postmenopausal Women, February 15, 2010 News Release - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Note: This is a re-analysis of the original study, however, between the time of the original publication and now, sub-analyses have been conducted. There continues to be wide debates on these issues.

"The NHLBI collaborates on the WHI with the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the National Institute on Aging, and the Office of Research on Women’s Health, all parts of the NIH. Wyeth-Ayerst Research provided the medication and placebo for the hormone study."

A Survey of NY-BR-1 Immunohistochemistry in Breast, Ovarian, Endometrial and Lung Cancers: A Correlation Study with Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), breast cancer and tumor pathology

Hormone replacement after gynaecological cancer

"However, the majority of the most common gynaecological malignancies like squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix, serous papillary epithelial ovarian carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas of the vulva are not oestrogen dependent."

Mismatch repair status and outcomes after adjuvant therapy in patients with surgically staged endometrial cancer (Lynch Syndrome mutations)

OBJECTIVES: "To determine whether DNA mismatch repair (MMR) modifies the response to chemotherapy or radiotherapy in patients with endometrial cancer...... METHODS: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for the DNA MMR proteins MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 was performed on a tissue microarray of specimens of primary endometrial cancer."

BRCA1 gene mutations may explain more than 80% of excess number of ovarian cancer cases after breast cancer - a population based study from the Wester

BRCA1 gene mutations may explain more than 80% of excess number of ovarian cancer cases after breast cancer - a population based study from the Western Sweden Health Care region.

abstract: Surveillance for the detection of recurrent ovarian cancer: Survival impact or lead-time bias?

OBJECTIVE: "To compare the survival impact of diagnosing recurrent disease by routine surveillance testing versus clinical symptomatology in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) who have achieved a complete response following primary therapy..... 

abstract: Decreased severity of ovarian cancer and increased survival in hens fed a flaxseed-enriched diet for 1 year

OBJECTIVE: "With the exception of the laying hen, no other animal model of spontaneous ovarian surface epithelial cancer replicates the human disease."

abstract: The Origin and Pathogenesis of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Proposed Unifying Theory

Reduced levels of hydroxylated, polyunsaturated ultra long-chain fatty acids in the serum of colorectal cancer patients: implications for early screening and detection

"There are currently no accurate serum markers for detecting early risk of colorectal cancer (CRC)."

The impact of outcome reporting bias in randomised controlled trials on a cohort of systematic reviews -- Kirkham et al. 340: c365 -- BMJ

"Of the 42 meta-analyses with a statistically significant result only, eight (19%) became non-significant after adjustment for outcome reporting bias and 11 (26%) would have overestimated the treatment effect by 20% or more."

"Conclusions:
Outcome reporting bias is an under-recognised problem that affects the conclusions in a substantial proportion of Cochrane reviews. Individuals conducting systematic reviews need to address explicitly the issue of missing outcome data for their review to be considered a reliable source of evidence...."

Lower your blood pressure with potassium-rich foods - news article

short video: Data-Driven, Patient-Centered Health Care: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Pioneer

in research: Increased Expression of Annexin A3 Is a Mechanism of Platinum Resistance in Ovarian Cancer

abstract: Are biosimilars really generics?; Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy

Buchanan sees cancer fight as challenge - Martinsville Bulletin - stage 1C clear cell ovarian cancer (tumour rupture)

"Now, she knows that “unless you’ve truly been there and done that, you cannot truly understand what it is like,” she said. “I’m looking at this as a different phase in my life. If I turn that next corner, I will try to accept the things I cannot change and deal with it the best I know how. It will make me a stronger person.”

Caring About Caregivers - 2033

Cancer Doesn’t End With Treatment

Confusing association with causation - common journalistic pitfall - Gary Schwitzer's HealthNewsReview Blog

"We've just posted a new guide on the importance of the language used to describe the results of observational studies. Day after day we see stories that use active powerful verbs like "prevent...boost...lower your risk...may cut death rate" to describe the results of these studies. That's misleading and inaccurate because such studies can't prove cause-and-effect. Read more about why in this detailed, thoughtful piece by Mark Zweig, MD, and Emily DeVoto, PhD. (It's actually a revision of a piece these two wrote for us two years ago. The new one fits nicely in our "Tips for Understanding Studies" section.)"

An extra 0.7 "satisfying sexual events" per month - Gary Schwitzer's Health News Review Blog

7 Myths About Women Over 50

Switch that turns on the spread of cancer discovered - science news report

in research: "This is often the fatal process in breast, ovarian, pancreatic and colon-rectal cancers."

Quality of Healthcare in Canada : A Chartbook | CHSRF

Note: this rather large paper includes cancer and international comparisons

Quality of Healthcare in Canada : A Chartbook | CHSRF

Social Science & Medicine : End of Life Care Policies: Do they make a difference in practice? (analysis - Saskatchewan, Canada)

"The findings of this study demonstrate a significant gap between institutional End of Life care policies and practice..."

table of contents - Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America focus on Pancreatic Cancer

Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America, Volume 19, Issue 2, Pages 235-462 (April 2010)
Pancreatic Cancer: Current Concepts in Treatment and Research

Posted Comments: Pelvic Exams Under Anaesthesia including abstract link

Sunday, February 14, 2010

2010 abstract Teaching Pelvic Examinations Under Anaesthesia: What Do Women Think? U of Calgary

Note: This issue of pelvic exams while under anasethesia has been explored in the research in the past   (click on 'read more' to see viewers comments)

Please take the poll and add your views on this issue.............................................

Conclusion: "The majority of patients wish to help medical students to learn but expect consent to be sought if medical students are to perform pelvic examinations on anaesthetized patients. Before introducing explicit consent in Canadian teaching centres, it will first be necessary to determine the feasibility of seeking consent specifically for this procedure."

February 15th, 2010: Results of (unscientific poll) Pelvic Exams while under Anaesethia

• I am happy to help with learning 24 (31%) 
• I do not feel permission is need 0 (0%)
• Permission is needed sometimes 1 (1%)
• Permission is needed without except 71 (93%)
• I have no concerns with the ethics of this situation 1 (1%)
• I have great concerns with the ethics of this situation 68 (89%)
• Is this today common practice - pelvic exams while under anesthesia? 22 (28%)
• Yes (common practice) 6 (7%)
• No (common practice) 7 (9%)
• How would I know? (common practice) 29 (38%)
• Is this a trust issue? 17 (22%)
• I belong to the ACOR ovarian group 35 (46%)
• I am a medical professional 11 (14%)
• Yes, I read the article 47 (61%)
• No, I didn't read the article 15 (19%)
• Was this new information for patients? 15 (19%)
• Was this new information for healthcare professionals? 13 (17%)

The dark side of curcumin. International Journal of Cancer

a caution regarding Curcumin (partial abstract)

Open Poll - Pelvic Exams While Under Anesthesia

Poll is Open
please contribute your views (men & women)
Patients, Consumer and Health Care Professionals

2010 abstract Teaching Pelvic Examinations Under Anaesthesia: What Do Women Think? U of Calgary

Note: This issue of pelvic exams while under anasethesia has been explored in the research in the past   (click on 'read more' to see viewers comments)

Please take the poll and add your views on this issue.............................................

media links to: Teaching Pelvic Examinations Under Anaesthesia

* research abstract: "Teaching Pelvic Examinations Under Anaesthesia: What do Women Think" by Sara Wainberg from the Journal of Obstetrics&Gynecology http://www.sogc.org/jogc/abstracts/2010
* "Time to end pelvic exams done without consent" The Globe&Mail http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/time-to-end-pelvic-exams-done-without-consent/article1447337/
* "When unknowing, hardly implied" The Globe&Mail Editorials http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/when-unknowing-hardly-implied/article1451312/

(2007) full access: Twin births, sex of children and maternal risk of ovarian cancer: a cohort study in Norway

(2002) ful access: British Journal of Cancer - Heritable breast cancer in twins

Cigarette Smoking as a Cause of Cancers Other Than Lung Cancer: An Exploratory Study Using the SEER Program — CHEST

eMJA: Performance-based hospital funding: a reform tool or an incentive for fraud?

news article: The popular test you don't need

"Does this mean you should avoid CT scans? No, don't swing from scan-a-mania to scan-a-phobia. These tests can be lifesavers, provided you and your doctor use them only when the benefits outweigh the risks....."

The prevalence of hereditary breast/ovarian cancer risk in patients with a history of breast or ovarian cancer in Japanese subjects

Primary chemotherapy patterns for ovarian cancer treatment in Japan

Preferences for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Information among Mexican, Cuban and Puerto Rican Women at Risk

Interest and Beliefs About BRCA Genetic Counseling Among At-Risk Latinas in New York City

Powerpoint presentation: Opioid-Induced Constipation: Banishing a Barrier to Successful Pain Management

see the section: "Download the Slide Presentation"

Medical News: Gabapentin Studies for Off-Label Uses Cooked? - in Neurology, Pain Management from MedPage Today

"Because the outcomes we examined were fiddled with to some extent, we don't know what the outcome was for the primary outcome that was originally set," she said.

"If I were a physician, or a patient, I would be thinking, what is the true evidence base here?"

Mindfulness training busts stress - CNN.com

Maurie Markman, MD, explains his passion for gynecologic cancer research | HemOncToday

excerpts from article:

"What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

My earliest mentor was my family physician/internist, who, unfortunately, died of pancreatic cancer many years ago. His advice was to make sure I approached the practice of medicine as a people’s doctor. There is nothing more rewarding than that. I took his advice very seriously and I certainly agree with it.

What would you consider one of your biggest successes in your specialty?

I’ve been involved in the development of a number of strategies, including the development of intraperitoneal therapy in ovarian cancer. However, I would argue the most important thing, which I think and hope I’ve done and continue to do, is to insist upon — for myself and others — viewing and thinking critically about everything we do as physicians. It’s crucial that we absolutely strive for and base our decisions on, as much as possible, solid, evidence-based medicine and phase-3, randomized trials. I believe to my core that the future of medicine has to be evidence-based?"

Share your ideas for Cancer.gov - by IdeaScale

new Website - NCI - submit your ideas....

NCI is proud to announce an “evolution” of our flagship Web site, Cancer.gov.  We are calling it an evolution rather than a site redesign because it is not a one-time change. Instead of a massive overhaul, meaningful and significant Web site enhancements will be rolled out in phases. 

Using microRNAs to understand cancer biology : The Lancet Oncology

"Studies such as that by Ueda and colleagues offer hope to patients with cancer that in the future they will be offered truly tailored treatment, based on the unique biology of their tumour as defined by microRNAs."
"This type of study needs to be done for every cancer type."

MRI of Endometriotic Cysts in Association With Ovarian Carcinoma -- Tanaka et al. 194 (2): 355 -- American Journal of Roentgenology

CONCLUSION. Endometriotic cysts with enhanced mural nodules are not always complicated with malignancy. In elderly patients, the presence of large enhanced nodules on large endometriotic cysts is more likely to indicate malignancy.

Farletuzumab (MORAb-003) in epithelial ovarian carcinoma; Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy - 10(3):Pages 431-437 - Informa Healthcare

Serum CA19.9 levels are commonly elevated in primary ovarian mucinous tumours but cannot be used to predict the histological subtype -- Journal of Clinical Pathology

Conclusion: Preoperative CA19.9 levels cannot be used to predict whether a suspected ovarian mucinous tumour is benign, borderline or malignant. Markedly elevated serum levels (>1000 U/ml) may be found in benign mucinous neoplasms as well as in borderline and malignant tumours.

Familial relative risks for breast cancer by pathological subtype: a population-based cohort study

Regional abdominal hyperthermia combined with systemic chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with ovarian cancer relapse: Results of a pilot stud

Note: warning on stats

"Results: Overall, 36 OCR patients were enrolled. The majority of the patients (>80%) were classified as platinum resistant.....
Prospective phase III trials are warranted to evaluate the benefit and efficacy in heavily pre-treated patients with OCR."

Expression of HER2/neu, estrogen and progesterone receptors, CA 125 and CA19-9 on cancer cell membrane in patients with serous and mucinous carcinoma

Adverse events experienced by homecare patients: a scoping review of the literature

CONCLUSION: A standardized definition of adverse events in the homecare setting is needed. Prospective cohort studies are needed to improve estimates and intervention studies should be undertaken to reduce the risk that homecare patients will experience adverse events.

Marsha Rivkin Center For Ovarian Cancer Research - Dr. Ingegerd Hellstrom

PharmaLive press release: Clinical Science to publish manuscript on HTX005 ovarian cancer biomarker 'OvPlex' (plus HTX005/AGR2)

Note: the abstract included here did not indicate the number of patients involved in the studies (see prior research articles) but according to the press release showed results in stages 11/111.

"10 February 2010, Melbourne: HealthLinx Limited (ASX:HTX) has been notified by the journal Clinical Science that a manuscript submitted for review by HealthLinx scientists and collaborators at the University of Liverpool has been accepted for publication. The manuscript describes the identification of HTX005 (AGR2) as a novel biomarker released into the bloodstream of ovarian cancer patients.

The performance of the novel biomarker AGR2 will be further tested in an up-coming multi-centre, multi-national biomarker study planned by HealthLinx. Based on preliminary data it is expected that this biomarker will increase the performance of OvPlex™ to greater than 97 per cent."

Antibodies Against Abnormal Glycoproteins Identified as Possible Biomarkers for Cancer Detection, February 2, 2010 News Release - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The team used this approach to screen blood specimens from breast, ovarian and prostate cancer patients.

New ovarian cancer drug tested - 'Nanotax' news article Kansan

"The University of Kansas Cancer Center began running a Phase I clinical trial of the anti-ovarian cancer drug Nanotax. Nanotax is a breakthrough drug because, unlike other anti-cancer drugs, it is water-soluble....The clinical trial at the University comes nearly 15 year after Nanotax was first conceived. It is one of three active clinical trials for ovarian cancer treatment in Kansas, and it’s the only one still recruiting patients. The trial is classified as Phase I because it tests the drug in a small group.

NCI: Ovarian Cancer Study Tests Lead Time of Potential Biomarkers

Pat Isenberg: Ovarian cancer is an elusive killer

Social Security Online - Compassionate Allowances

Note: includes a list of diseases covered

Prevalence Rates of Pathogenic Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 Genes in Families with Different Disease Histories: Results from the German Consortium for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer

* From 1997-2009 more than 6,000 families were screened for pathogenic mutations in BRCA1/2.

Abstract Vitamin D: Panacea or a Pandora's box for prevention? CPR

"Among women, an increased rate of mortality was observed both for deficient concentrations and very high concentrations (>124nmol/L). Results suggest that caution should be exercised in using very high dose vitamin D supplementation in prevention trials that may result in high concentrations of vitamin D (>100nmol/L). Results suggest that caution should be exercised in using very high dose vitamin D supplementation in prevention trials that may result in high concentrations of vitamin D (>100nmol/L)."

Abstract - Cancer predisposition: I say genetics, you say genomics, but are we there yet? -- Cancer Prevention Research

"A few examples include Lynch syndrome, hereditary breast-ovarian cancer syndrome and Cowden syndrome."

Abstract: Risk factors for epithelial ovarian cancer by tumor dominance, a surrogate for cell of origin -Cancer Prevention Research

"Although limited by small case numbers, our results suggest that tubal ligation may be more strongly associated with tumors of ovarian origin, while family history of ovarian cancer primarily increases risk of tumors of tubal origin. Characterizing risk factor relationships by tumor dominance may elucidate how these exposures alter risk and help to improve prevention efforts."

Abstract Public and provider awareness and use of a CA-125 test for ovarian cancer -- - Cancer Prevention Research

INSIDERMEDICINE VIDEO: Paroxetine (Paxil) Interferes With Life Saving Qualities of Breast Cancer Drug Tamoxifen-Dr. David Juurlink

Note: short video/interview

short video: Participatory Medicine and Declaration

"Participatory Medicine is a cooperative model of health care that encourages and expects active involvement by all connected parties (patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, etc.) as integral to the full continuum of care. The ‘participatory’ concept may also be applied to fitness, nutrition, mental health, end-of-life care, and all issues broadly related to an individual’s health."

news item - court case - Charleston woman names physician, practice in medical negligence case | West Virginia Record

Note: this article does not mention what type of cancer although it references gynecologic oncology

SGO Tumor Board Discussant presentation on Ovarian Cancer Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy by Ignace B. Vergote, MD, PhD, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven Belgium

Note: graphics/statistics
Clinical Presentation - 2/2009 (freely accessible) slide and subsequent discussion presentation on debulking procedures/neoadjuvant vs upfront surgery, maintenance therapies comparing outcomes in European/Central American/Canadian studies etc

Ovarian Cancer survivor gets second chance to carry flame (Vancouver Olympics)

Cancer survivor gets second chance to carry flame

Phase I Oncology Studies: Evidence That in the Era of Targeted Therapies Patients on Lower Doses Do Not Fare Worse — Dr Maurie Markman et al

abstract:

"Purpose: To safely assess new drugs, cancer patients in initial cohorts of phase I oncology studies receive low drug doses. Doses are successively increased until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. Because traditional chemotherapy is often more effective near the MTD, ethical concerns have been raised about administration of low drug doses to phase I patients. However, a substantial portion of oncology trials now investigate targeted agents, which may have different dose-response relationships than cytotoxic chemotherapies.......

Finding the Right Dose for Cancer Therapeutics—Can We Do Better? — Clinical Cancer Research

Note: very short abstract as below, but good points (in the absence of the full paper)

Abstract:
"Unlike other diseases, dose-selection for cancer therapeutics is often based on the maximum-tolerated dose in phase 1 studies involving relatively few patients. In this issue of Clinical Cancer Research, Jain and colleagues provide evidence that lower doses may be as effective as maximum-tolerated doses in the treatment of cancer patients."

NCI Optimizing Chemotherapy with Bevacizumab for Ovarian Cancer

Physician assistants to take growing role in Canada - CTV News

NEJM -- FDA Drug Information That Never Reaches Clinicians

Myriad Defends Policy of Urging Docs to Genetically Counsel BRACAnalysis Customers GenomeWeb

Rosalind Franklin, DNA Discoveries in Science and Art | Paintings for Sale

5th Canadian Conference on Ovarian Cancer Research (Toronto) 2010 + Survivor's Workshop

"This special session for survivors will provide updates on emerging research, as well as information about patient resources. Women and their families will have the opportunity to “Ask the Expert” as well as network with other individuals sharing the same experience. Please watch this space for detailed program updates."

Ovarian Cancer Canada - aka colour me stupid??

Editorial note (mine): colour me stupid, but at last check turquoise was not/is not teal

"With turquoise being the colour of the year, this provides us with the perfect opportunity to continue to create awareness about ovarian cancer, the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers. Celebrate our colour throughout 2010 – wear it often, tell your friends and paint your town teal!"

Endometriosis related to family history of malignancies in the Yale series

Conclusions:
"These data suggest a familial association of endometriosis with ovarian, colon and prostate cancers. This evidence could support the genetics and molecular similarities between endometriosis javascript:void(0)and cancer. Future studies will be important to determine a clear genetic link between endometriosis and cancer."

Abstract/full access: What physicians want to learn about sickness certification: analyses of questionnaire data from 4019 physicians

Conclusions:
"A majority of physicians in most types of clinics/practices, not only primary care, indicated the need for more knowledge and skills in handling sickness certification cases. Increased knowledge and skills are needed in order to protect both the health and equity of patients. However, few physicians stated that they needed more skills in filling out sickness certificates, which contradicts previous findings about such documents being of poor quality and suggests that factors other than mere knowledge and skills are involved."

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and breast cancer mortality in women receiving tamoxifen: a population based cohort study (Paroxetine/Paxil/Seroxat)

CONCLUSION: Paroxetine use during tamoxifen treatment is associated with an increased risk of death from breast cancer, supporting the hypothesis that paroxetine can reduce or abolish the benefit of tamoxifen in women with breast cancer. (trade names Seroxat, Paxil)

Blog: What Reporters Missed at the NIH Colon CA Screening State-of-the-Science Conference By: Gary Schwitzer

(includes commentaries)
"....And it's difficult to understand why this didn't get news coverage. It sure sounded newsworthy to me."

Blog: Preempting End-of-Life Decisions

"I do not want my life to be prolonged if, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, my situation is hopeless."
"I want my life to be prolonged as long as possible within the limits of generally accepted medical standards, even if this means that I might be kept alive on machines for years."

"Check one. That's one of the places where I'm stalled on making my advance medical directive."

Augmentation of Therapeutic Efficacy in Drug-Resistance - breast and ovarian cancers - C6 (CER) + Paclitaxel

"This study describes a novel mechanism to overcome MDR through a polymer-blend nanoparticle platform that delivers a combination therapy of C6-ceramide (CER), a synthetic analog of an endogenously occurring apoptotic modulator, together with the chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel (PTX), in a single formulation. ( PTX/CER )

Survival in women with MMR mutations and ovarian cancer: a multicentre study in Lynch syndrome kindreds -- Grindedal et al. 47 (2): 99 -- Journal of Medical Genetics

Conclusions: In the series examined, infiltrating ovarian cancer in Lynch syndrome had a better prognosis than infiltrating ovarian cancer in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers or in the general population. Lifetime risk of ovarian cancer of about 10% and a risk of dying of ovarian cancer of 20% gave a lifetime risk of dying of ovarian cancer of about 2% in female MMR mutation carriers.

Single gene mutation induces endometrial cancer

Tuesday, February 9th - Pelvic exams at McMaster (comment) - The Globe and Mail

Assessment of clinical practices among cancer genetic counselors

Note: refers to time spent by genetic counselors in advising patients

Can self-esteem, mastery and perceived stigma predict long-term adjustment in women carrying a BRCA1/2-mutation? Evidence from a multi-center study.

Consistency in Insurance Coverage for Iatrogenic Conditions Resulting From Cancer Treatment Including Fertility Preservation -JCO

Rate of severe ovarian damage following surgery for endometriomas

CONCLUSIONS: Severe ovarian damage, occurring in gonads operated on for ovarian endometriomas, is not a rare event.

news item: Paxil Blocks Tamoxifen Lowers Survival Odds Against Breast Cancer - Breast Cancer

"Patients taking Paxil and tamoxifen should talk with their doctors about changing their antidepressant, Juurlink said. But he advised against abruptly discontinuing Paxil.
"There is a very real danger to stopping Paxil suddenly. There is a well-described withdrawal syndrome and the risk of depression becoming more severe," he said.
In addition, any transition to another antidepressant should be done gradually over several weeks, he said."

Comparison of Focus Groups on Cancer and Employment Conducted Face to Face or by Telephone

Is 2010 the beginning of a new medical era? - news article - conference CAM

quick check - PARP clinical trials (ovarian,BRCA,solid tumours)

Med students say conventional medicine would benefit by integrating alternative therapies

Northwest Biotherapeutics Inc. - press release

"The Company is also conducting a Phase I/II trial with DCVax(R) for recurrent metastatic ovarian cancer."

Abbott Submits New Automated Ovarian Cancer Test for U.S. Approval PRNewswire

Marshall Edwards, Inc. Announces Resignation of Christopher Naughton From Board of Directors

Note: the OVATURE ovarian cancer trial results are to be published later this year - Phenoxodiol

abstract: Relationship between dietary and supplemental intake of folate, methionine, vitamin B6 and folate receptor α expression in ovarian tumors

abstract: Administration of cisplatin in three patients with carboplatin hypersensitivity: is skin testing useful?

Family History, Mammographic Density, and Risk of Breast Cancer — Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Risk for Ovarian and Endometrial Cancers in the Iowa Women's Health Study — Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention

Do Canadian patients trust others like them?

"Trust in a “person like yourself” has decreased from 2008 to 2009 (as have most information sources listed in the report), and dropped again in 2010. From the global 2010 Edelman report, 44% of respondents aged between 25-64 years said they would find the information from a person like them to be either ‘very credible’ or ‘extremely credible’ (down from 47% in 2009, and 58% in 2008). That’s a huge drop over the past 3 years!......Another point to keep in mind is that a “person like yourself” is not the same as a “patient like yourself”. "

Estrogen-only HRT may increase risk of asthma after menopause | Eureka! Science News

Enhancing adoptive immunotherapy of cancer; Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy

2009 A Pan-Canadian Clinical Practice Guideline: Assessment of Psychosocial Health Care Needs of the Adult Cancer Patient

Note:

1) next update is 2014;

2) a quick search reveals that data was:

included for:        breast,colorectal,lung,prostate
not included for:  ovarian,brain,pancreatic,leukemia,lymphoma

CCAC_Research January 15, 2010 Section 10. ColoMarker

Note/Warning: very graphic images included in this newsletter

Section 10: ColoMarker Tests for Colon Cancer (Dec. 17/09)

Dec 2009: Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada - DNA stool tests for colorectal cancer

DNA stool test A DNA stool test screens stool for DNA mutations, indicating the presence of precancerous polyps or colon cancer"

* Pros: No dietary changes are required before the test. There’s no need to empty the colon ahead of time. Stool sample collection can be done at home.

* Cons: The test currently screens for a limited number of DNA mutations in stool. The test hasn’t been universally accepted as a screening tool for colon cancer. False-negative results are possible.

Search of: ovarian cancer | Adult | received from 01/01/2010 to 02/07/2010 - List Results - ClinicalTrials.gov

Search of: 'ovarian cancer' received from 01/01/2010 to 02/07/2010 - List Results = 11

Does risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy leaved behind residual tube?

Abstract
Objective
Risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) is an effective option for women with BRCA mutations however there is limited information as to how much tubal epithelium remains after RRSO.

Operating from the Other Side of the Table: Control Dynamics and the Surgeon Educator

Serum tetranectin is a significant prognostic marker in ovarian cancer patients.

Conclusion. Preoperative serum TN is a useful prognostic indicator of advanced stage for patients with OvCa.

Mental health and occupational wellbeing of Australian gynaecologic oncologists

Conclusion:"Australian gynaecologic oncologists experience considerable occupational distress while possessing high levels of personal accomplishment and job satisfaction. To maintain a healthy workforce, it is important to build on existing supports while conducting further research to identify suitable evidence-based strategies for improving the mental health of these surgeons."

Late morbidity following nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy

Radical hysterectomy during the transition period from traditional to nerve-sparing technique

Conclusions:"Although during the introductory period nerve-sparing technique brings about an improvement in voiding function, it prolongs the total operative time in comparison to traditional radical hysterectomy."

Evaluation of the risk of malignancy index in daily clinical management of adnexal masses

Conclusions

"In our study population, introduction of the RMI would improve the management of adnexal masses, with a higher percentage of ovarian cancer patients that are operated by a gynecologic oncologist. At the same time, referral of patients with non-invasive (benign and borderline) lesions would be reduced."

When ‘never-events’ occur despite adherence to clinical guidelines: The case of venous thromboembolism in clear cell cancer of the ovary compared with other epithelial histologic subtypes

Note: 'never-events' is a term used in patient safety (eg. language - near misses, etc)


Conclusions.
"Women with CCC-O have a 2.5-times greater risk of disease related VTE than women with other histologies of epithelial ovarian cancer despite adherence to prophylactic guidelines. Given the high rate of VTE postoperatively as well as with disease recurrence, one should consider indefinite therapeutic anticoagulation in women with CCC-O. The case of CCC-O is one example of the impracticality of payment denial for ‘never-events,’ as VTE arises despite best efforts at prevention."

Alternative intraperitoneal chemotherapy regimens for optimally debulked ovarian cancer

Conclusion: Intraperitoneal chemotherapy regimens using carboplatin or cisplatin and dropping day 8 IP paclitaxel have less toxicity and less discontinuation of therapy

Incidence and management of bevacizumab-associated gastrointestinal perforations in patients with recurrent ovarian carcinoma

The prophylactic conversion to an extended infusion schedule and use of premedication to prevent hypersensitivity reactions in ovarian cancer patients during carboplatin retreatment

Single agent carboplatin versus carboplatin plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in recurrent ovarian cancer: Final survival results of a SWOG (S0200) phase 3 randomized trial

Conclusion: "Despite a favorable impact of carboplatin and PLD on progression-free survival in this trial, the effect on overall survival is not statistically significant. For currently unknown reasons, administering PLD with carboplatin appears to substantially reduce the incidence of platinum-associated hypersensitivity reactions."

Risk of Ovarian Cancer and Inherited Variants in Relapse-Associated Genes

Quality of care in advanced ovarian cancer: The importance of provider specialty.

BACKGROUND: One of the cornerstones of ovarian cancer therapy is cytoreductive surgery, which can be performed by surgeons with different specialty training. We examined whether surgeon specialty impacts quality of life (as proxied by presence of ostomy) and overall survival for women with advanced ovarian cancer.

Detecting Ovarian Cancer - news video JNCI