Fecal Incontinence Affecting Quality of Life and Social Functioning Among Long-Term Gynecological Cancer Survivors

Conclusions: Among gynecological cancer survivors having undergone pelvic radiotherapy alone or as part of a combined treatment, fecal incontinence is associated with social, psychological, sexual, and functional consequences.

Follow-Up Study of the Correlation Between Postoperative Com... : International Journal of Gynecological Cancer

Follow-Up Study of the Correlation Between Postoperative Computed Tomographic Scan and Primary Surgeon Assessment in Patients With Advanced Ovarian, Tubal, or Peritoneal Carcinoma Reported to Have Undergone Primary Surgical Cytoreduction to Residual Disease of 1 cm or Smaller

Conclusions: On this follow-up analysis, only age, stage, and residual disease were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. Discordant findings between the primary surgeon's assessment and the postoperative CT scan findings of residual disease was not an independent prognostic factor.

econdary Surgery in Patients With Serous Low Malignant Potential Ovarian Tumors With Peritoneal Implants

Conclusions: Secondary surgery seems to reduce the risk of recurrence in patients with serous LMPOT and peritoneal implants. Patients with residual disease are probably those likely to benefit from such surgery. Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.

Lymph Node Metastasis in Grossly Apparent Stages I and II Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Conclusions: Based on diagnostic value, the result suggests that the role of lymphadenectomy might differ by histological type, as its therapeutic effect might be unclear. A multicenter analysis is essential for confirmation

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - Questions Are the Answer: Build Your Question List

Note: general

Physician-Ownership Of Ambulatory Surgery Centers Linked To Higher Volume Of Surgeries -- Health Affairs

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.

abstract: Population-Based Study of the Risk of Second Primary Contralateral Breast Cancer Associated With Carrying a Mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2

Results: Compared with noncarriers, BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers had 4.5-fold (95% CI, 2.8- to 7.1-fold) and 3.4-fold (95% CI, 2.0- to 5.8-fold) increased risks of contralateral breast cancer, respectively. The relative risk of contralateral breast cancer for BRCA1 mutation carriers increased as age of first diagnosis decreased. Age-specific cumulative risks are provided for clinical guidance.

Conclusion: The risks of subsequent contralateral breast cancer are substantial for women who carry a BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation. These findings have important clinical relevance regarding the assessment of BRCA1/BRCA2 status in patients with breast cancer and the counseling and clinical management of patients found to carry a mutation.

abstract: Apr 5, 2010: Development of a Multimarker Assay for Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer -- JCO

Note: accompanying Editorial notes that this study was comprised of postmenopausal women only
                                    ******************
JCO Early Release, published online ahead of print Apr 5 2010
Journal of Clinical Oncology, 10.1200/JCO.2008.19.2484
Received August 3, 2008
Accepted January 5, 2010

Development of a Multimarker Assay for Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer (reference link for authors)

Purpose: Early detection of ovarian cancer has great promise to improve clinical outcome.
Patients and Methods: Ninety-six serum biomarkers were analyzed in sera from healthy women and from patients with ovarian cancer, benign pelvic tumors, and breast, colorectal, and lung cancers, using multiplex xMAP bead-based immunoassays. A Metropolis algorithm with Monte Carlo simulation (MMC) was used for analysis of the data.
Results: A training set, including sera from 139 patients with early-stage ovarian cancer, 149 patients with late-stage ovarian cancer, and 1,102 healthy women, was analyzed with MMC algorithm and cross validation to identify an optimal biomarker panel discriminating early-stage cancer from healthy controls. The four-biomarker panel providing the highest diagnostic power of 86% sensitivity (SN) for early-stage and 93% SN for late-stage ovarian cancer at 98% specificity (SP) was comprised of CA-125, HE4, CEA, and VCAM-1. This model was applied to an independent blinded validation set consisting of sera from 44 patients with early-stage ovarian cancer, 124 patients with late-stage ovarian cancer, and 929 healthy women, providing unbiased estimates of 86% SN for stage I and II and 95% SN for stage III and IV disease at 98% SP. This panel was selective for ovarian cancer showing SN of 33% for benign pelvic disease, SN of 6% for breast cancer, SN of 0% for colorectal cancer, and SN of 36% for lung cancer.
Conclusion: A panel of CA-125, HE4, CEA, and VCAM-1, after additional validation, could serve as an initial stage in a screening strategy for epithelial ovarian cancer.

Editorial: A Step Forward for Two-Step Screening for Ovarian Cancer - Journal of Clinical Oncology

A Step Forward for Two-Step Screening for Ovarian Cancer
  Martee L. Hensley, Department of Medicine, Gynecologic Medical Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

See accompanying article doi: 10.1200/JCO.19.2484

Ovarian Cancer and Our Pets -Cheryl's family has just been added!

'Ovarian Cancer and Our Pets' Montage (video) free to view - no passwords needed - just click on the link

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

NHGRI Names New Chief of Genome Technology Branch, April 5, 2010 News Release - National Institutes of Health (NIH) U.S.

"Dr. Brody has headed GTB's Molecular Pathogenesis Section, investigating genetic variants that lead to changes in normal metabolic pathways to cause cancer and birth defects. He has made key discoveries regarding the genetics of breast cancer and neural tube defects. For example, the Brody laboratory was among the first to report that women who carry mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes are at a higher risk of developing both breast cancer and ovarian cancer compared to women without such mutations. In addition, his group was the first to report that the frequency of specific BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are elevated in the Jewish population. In collaboration with scientists at Howard University, Washington, D.C., he described a series of mutations and rare variants in BRCA1 carried by some African-American women with breast and ovarian cancer."

uTube - Bradley J. Monk, MD, University of California Irvine talks about early stage ovarian cancer including clear cell SGO

Note: the title on this video is wrong

utube: Thomas J. Herzog, MD, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons talks about liposomal doxorubicin, bevacizumab, and temsirolimus in patients with advanced malignancy SGO

Thomas J. Herzog, MD, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons talks about liposomal doxorubicin, bevacizumab, and temsirolimus in patients with advanced malignancy.

utube - Deborah Armstrong, MD, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, discusses Early studies of enzastaurin and bevacizumab.SGO

utube video - Robert L. Coleman, MD/M. D. Anderson Cancer Center talks about intraperitoneal versus intravenous chemotherapy in ovarian cancer SGO

» Blog Archive » WORD Goes To SGO (+ video)

Chemotherapy time interval and development of platinum and taxane resistance in ovarian, fallopian, and peritoneal carcinomas

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate drug resistance after exposure to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and to postoperative chemotherapy in epithelial ovarian, fallopian, and primary peritoneal carcinomas.

Reminder: A patient's perspective on ovarian cancer as a chronic disease—Devaluing a survivor's challenge Caridad Vera-Garcia

Note: Cary is now with us 'in spirit'

Is the current concept of recurrent ovarian carcinoma as a chronic disease also applicable in platinum resistant patients?

Note: the authors' opinions confirm ovarian cancer as a chronic disease

full free access: COMMENTARY Initial Assessment, Surveillance, and Management of Blood Pressure in Patients Receiving Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Signaling Pathway Inhibitors

"Inhibiting angiogenesis is an effective approach to cancer therapy, but it has been associated with cardiovascular toxic effects. At times, adverse events such as hypertension and heart failure have led to treatment cessation and even life-threatening consequences. Cancer patients have often been excluded from studies of cardiovascular disease, and patients with clinically significant cardiovascular disease have been excluded from studies of new cancer therapies. Consequently, the capacity for determining the incidence or prevalence of cardiovascular toxic effects of anticancer agents and to determine their optimal management has been limited. Oncologists and cardiovascular medicine specialists have increasingly recognized that the prevention and management of these toxic effects is important for these potentially life-sustaining anticancer agents to benefit the greatest possible number of patients."
 
Box 1. Summary recommendations

HE4: a new potential early biomarker for the recurrent ovarian cancer

"The follow-up study showed an increase of HE4 5-8 months before CA125 increment in five of the eight patients, this early expression being strictly associated to a relapse of the disease. In conclusion, this study showed that HE4, compared to CA125, potentially is a better marker for the diagnosis of OC and could be an important early indicator of the recurrence of the disease."

Epidemiologic evidence on coffee and cancer

Nutr Cancer. 2010 Apr;62(3):271-83.
Epidemiologic evidence on coffee and cancer.

Arab L.
David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.

Coffee consumption is a major and frequent dietary exposure in diverse cultures around the globe whose safety has been questioned. A substantial body of epidemiologic evidence, consisting of over 500 papers relating the consumption of coffee to cancer of various sites, has accumulated to date. Numerous individual, site-specific meta analyses have been undertaken at various times. However, there is no comprehensive, up-to-date overview of the entirety of the knowledge base. To address this need, this review summarized the findings of the meta analyses and recent papers on site-specific human cancers among coffee consumers. For hepatocellular and endometrial cancers, there appears to be a strong and consistent protective association; for colorectal cancer, the direction of association is borderline protective. There appears to be no association with breast, pancreatic, kidney, ovarian, prostate, or gastric cancer. Risk of bladder cancer appears to be associated with heavy coffee consumption in some populations and among men. The associations with childhood leukemia and mother's consumption of coffee were ambiguous-with some suggestion of risk at high levels of daily consumption.

PMID: 20358464 [PubMed - in process]

Development of a culturally tailored genetic counseling booklet about hereditary breast and ovarian cancer for Black women.

Clinical Trials Canada - preformated search

Search - preformated - Ovarian / Fallopian Tube / Peritoneal = 58 clinical trials
Note:
1) results are not necessarily specific to Ovarian/FT/P cancer but include differing tumor types (cancers)  e.g.phase 1;
2) should be cross referenced to http://www.clinicaltrials.gov for potential duplications/excluded/not included

Mice get new role in search for cancer drugs - The Boston Globe

Note: includes public comments

DOD (patient safety) Defense.gov News Article: Officials Step Up Patient Safety Efforts

“It’s OK to make and identify an error,” he added, “It’s not OK to cover up an error.”

Study: Patient Safety Incidents at U.S. Hospitals Show No Decline, Cost $9 Billion - financial news

The following are the 15 patient safety indicators studied:

Complications of anesthesia
Death in low mortality Diagnostic Related Groupings (DRGs)
Decubitus ulcer (bed sores)
Death among surgical inpatients with serious treatable
complications
Iatrogenic pneumothorax
Selected infections due to medical care
Post-operative hip fracture
Post-operative hemorrhage or hematoma
Post-operative physiologic and metabolic derangements
Post-operative respiratory failure
Post-operative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis
Post-operative sepsis
Post-operative abdominal wound dehiscence
Accidental puncture or laceration
Transfusion reaction

Insight on Variables Leading to Burnout in Cancer Physicians

abstract

Requests for Cancer Prevention Information: The Cancer Information Service (2002–2006)

NIH Senior Health: Life After Cancer - Table of contents

Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog: Palliative Care: An Unnecessary Specialty.

Sick leave of spouses to cancer patients before and after diagnosis - abstract

abstract: pre-clinical - A Novel Breast/Ovarian Cancer Peptide Vaccine Platform That Promotes Specific Type-1 but not Treg/Tr1-type Responses - DepoVax

DepoVax

Agendia Launches BluePrint(TM) Expanding Breast Cancer Product Offering - media article

"HUNTINGTON BEACH, California and AMSTERDAM, March 24, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Agendia, a world leader in molecular cancer diagnostics, today announced that its breast cancer product offering, consisting of breast cancer recurrence test MammaPrint(R), and TargetPrint(TM), has been expanded with BluePrint (TM) to report important additional information on tumor subtypes. This new service is based on an 80-gene signature that identifies the basal-like, luminal-like, and HER2 molecular subtypes in breast cancer tumors...."

free full access: A phase-I trial of pemetrexed plus carboplatin in recurrent ovarian cancer.

for full free access click on 'pdf'

Search of: ovarian cancer | Open Studies | received from 03/01/2010 to 04/05/2010 - List Results - ClinicalTrials.gov

12 new clinical trials listed - search terms: ovarian cancer | Open Studies | received from 03/01/2010 to 04/05/2010

Rank Status Study
1  Not yet recruiting Seprafilm™ for the Prevention of Intraperitoneal Adhesions and Improved Delivery of Therapy in Women Undergoing Staging and Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Advanced Ovarian Cancer

2  Recruiting Trial of Best Supportive Care and Either Cisplatin or Paclitaxel to Treat Patients With Ovarian Cancer and Inoperable Malignant Bowel Obstruction
Conditions: Ovarian Cancer; Bowel Obstruction

3  Recruiting Carboplatin and Paclitaxel or Oxaliplatin and Capecitabine, With or Without Bevacizumab, as First-Line Therapy in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Stage II, Stage III, Stage IV, or Recurrent Stage I Epithelial Ovarian Cancer or Fallopian Tube Cancer

4  Not yet recruiting Irinotecan and Bevacizumab for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer
Condition: Ovarian Cancer

5  Recruiting MLN8237 in Patients With Ovarian, Fallopian Tube or Peritoneal Cancer Preceded by Phase 1 Study of MLN8237 Plus Paclitaxel Treatment of Ovary or Breast Cancer
Conditions: Ovarian Carcinoma; Fallopian Tube Cancer; Peritoneal Cancer; Breast Carcinoma

6  Not yet recruiting First-line Treatment of Weekly Paclitaxel With Carboplatin and Bevacizumab in Ovarian Cancer
Conditions: Epithelial Ovarian Cancer; Primary Peritoneal Cancer; Fallopian Tube Cancer

7  Recruiting Collection of Tissue Samples From Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Ovarian Epithelial Cancer
Condition: Ovarian Cancer

8  Not yet recruiting Changes in Brain Function in Patients With Stage I, Stage II, Stage III, or Stage IV Ovarian, Primary Peritoneal, or Fallopian Tube Cancer Who Are Receiving Chemotherapy
Conditions: Cognitive/Functional Effects; Fallopian Tube Cancer; Ovarian Cancer; Peritoneal Cavity Cancer

9  Recruiting Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Treating Long-Term Gastrointestinal Adverse Effects Caused by Radiation Therapy in Patients With Pelvic Cancer
Conditions: Bladder Cancer; Cervical Cancer; Colorectal Cancer; Endometrial Cancer; Gastrointestinal Complications; Long-term Effects Secondary to Cancer Therapy in Adults; Ovarian Cancer; Prostate Cancer; Radiation Toxicity; Sarcoma; Testicular Germ Cell Tumor; Vaginal Cancer

10  Recruiting A Phase I Safety Study of a Cancer Vaccine to Treat HLA-A2 Positive Advanced Stage Ovarian, Breast and Prostate Cancer
Conditions: Ovarian Neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms; Prostatic Neoplasms
Intervention: Biological: DPX-0907 consists of 7 tumor-specific HLA-A2-restricted peptides, a universal T Helper peptide, a polynucleotide adjuvant, a liposome and Montanide ISA51 VG

11  Recruiting Stereotactic Radiosurgery Using CyberKnife in Treating Women With Advanced or Recurrent Gynecological Malignancies
Conditions: Fallopian Tube Cancer; Ovarian Sarcoma; Ovarian Stromal Cancer; Recurrent Cervical Cancer; Recurrent Endometrial Carcinoma; Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial Cancer; Recurrent Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor; Recurrent Uterine Sarcoma; Recurrent Vaginal Cancer; Recurrent Vulvar Cancer; Stage III Cervical Cancer; Stage III Endometrial Carcinoma; Stage III Ovarian Epithelial Cancer; Stage III Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor; Stage III Uterine Sarcoma; Stage III Vaginal Cancer; Stage III Vulvar Cancer; Stage IV Endometrial Carcinoma; Stage IV Ovarian Epithelial Cancer; Stage IV Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor; Stage IV Uterine Sarcoma; Stage IV Vulvar Cancer; Stage IVA Cervical Cancer; Stage IVA Vaginal Cancer; Stage IVB Cervical Cancer; Stage IVB Vaginal Cancer

12  Recruiting Open Label Study to Assess Efficacy and Safety of Olaparib in Confirmed Genetic BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutation Pats
Conditions: Ovarian; Breast; Prostate; Pancreatic; Advanced Tumours

Announcement: Annual International Gathering - Ovarian Cancer/ACOR

ACOR

Further information/registration (free): http://www.ocats.ca

Credit where credit is due? Regulation, research integrity and the attribution of authorship in the health sciences

How accurate are cancer cell lines? : Nature News

"Some argue that tumour cells obtained directly from patients are the best way to study cancer genomics."

The molecular genetic basis of ovarian cancer and its roadmap towards a better treatment

Review

The molecular genetic basis of ovarian cancer and its roadmap towards a better treatment

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.

Tertiary cytoreduction in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer: An updated series

Abstract 
Objective Surgical cytoreduction is an integral therapeutic modality for patients with epithelial ovarian (EOC), fallopian tube (FTC), or primary peritoneal (PPC) cancer in the primary setting. The role of surgical cytoreduction in the recurrent setting is not clearly defined and remains controversial. The objective of this study was to assess this potential survival benefit in a large cohort of patients with a long follow-up period.  

Pathway analysis of gene lists associated with platinum-based chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer: The big picture

"We propose that future international cooperation should aim at a uniform pooled analysis of the wealth of ovarian cancer array data already available. This will enhance the power of each separate ovarian cancer study and can lead to promising results."

PET/MRI: paving the way for the next generation of clinical multimodality imaging applications.

The Psychosocial Oncology Learning Assessment: A Province-Wide Survey of Cancer Care Providers' Learning Needs

"This research suggests that cancer care providers are interested in learning more about the psychosocial issues related to cancer care."

Familial Risk of Cancer and Knowledge and Use of Genetic Testing

MAIN MEASURES: Familial cancer risk was estimated based on the number of first-degree relatives with a breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (BRCA)- or a Lynch-associated cancer, age of onset (<50 or >/=50 years), and personal history of any cancer.
CONCLUSIONS: These nationally representative data provide estimates of the prevalence of familial cancer risk in the US and suggest that information about genetic testing is not reaching many at higher risk of inherited cancer.

Chemotherapy use and risk of bone marrow suppression in a large population-based cohort of older women with breast and ovarian cancer.

Med Oncol. 2010 Apr 2

Nurgalieva Z, Liu CC, Du XL.

Division of Epidemiology and Disease Control, University of Texas School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler Drive, RAS-E631, Houston, TX, USA.

We studied 65,521 women with breast cancer and 7,420 women with ovarian cancer aged >/= 65 identified from the 16 areas of the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program linked with Medicare data during 1991-2002. Bone marrow toxicity associated with chemotherapy was defined using diagnosis codes from Medicare inpatient, outpatient and physician claims. The time to event Cox regression was utilized to estimate the risk of bone marrow toxicity. Use of anthracyclines, taxanes or platinums was associated with increased risks of short- (3 months) anemia and neutropenia in patients with breast cancer. Alkylating agents or antimetabolites were additional significant predictors of anemia in women with ovarian cancer. Patients who received chemotherapy (irrespective of regimens) were twice (breast cancer) or three times (ovarian cancer) as likely to develop thrombocytopenia compared to those not receiving chemotherapy. Among women with breast cancer, patients receiving cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil regimens (hazard ratio = 19.0, 95% CI = 11.2-32.5), platinum/taxane therapy (21.9, 11.9-40.4) or the cyclophosphamide, adriamycin and fluorouracil regimen (32.5, 19.6-53.9) were strongly associated with risk of aplastic anemia. There was a dose-response relationship between the use of taxane or platinum and the risk of bone marrow suppression, whereas the increased risk of bone marrow toxicity was consistently higher in those with use of alkylating agents or anthracycline-based regimens irrespective of the increasing number of cycles received. In conclusion, there was an association between chemotherapy use and clinical manifestations of bone marrow toxicities in a population-based setting.

Merck KGaA - EU regulator calls for review of Erbitux (cetuximab) / cancer vaccine Stimuvax (BLP25 liposome vaccine)

Safety concerns: 
1) Erbitux (cetuximab)
2) cancer vaccine Stimuvax (BLP25 liposome vaccine)

Canadian Health Reference Guide - Saskatchewan Government and Health System Partners Release Plan to Improve Surgical Care

Note: no specific mention of ovarian cancer

Curis to Present at the 17th Annual Future Leaders in the Biotech Industry Conference - Hedgehog Pathway inhibitor GDC-0449 (financial news)

"Dan Passeri, Curis' President and Chief Executive Officer, will provide an overview of the status of GDC-0449, an orally-administered small molecule Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitor. GDC-0449 is currently being developed in three Phase II clinical trials by Curis' collaborator Genentech, including in a pivotal Phase II trial in advanced basal cell carcinoma and Phase II trials in metastatic colorectal cancer and advanced ovarian cancer. Mr. Passeri will also discuss CUDC-101, Debio 0932 and Curis' other targeted cancer programs, in addition to other corporate activities.

There will be a corresponding webcast of the presentation, which can be accessed by visiting:

http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/conflobby.zhtml?ticker=CRIS&item_id=2957649

The presentation will be archived shortly after the live event and available for 30 days following the conference. In addition, it will be available for 30 days on the Investor Relations section of the Curis website at www.curis.com."

Best Evidence Interview: Use of Some SSRIs With Tamoxifen Increases Mortality in Breast Cancer Patients: A Best Evidence Interview With Catherine Kelly, MD

Note: included in interview is discussion of U.S./Canadian/Global research on this subject matter (reminder: Medscape articles are freely accessible with registration)

Cost Consciousness in Patient Care — What Is Medical Education’s Responsibility? NEJM

Phase I trial of ixabepilone plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in patients with adenocarcinoma of breast or ovary

Abstract  
Background: Ixabepilone is a semisynthetic epothilone B analogue that is active in taxane-resistant cell lines and has shown activity in patients with refractory breast and ovarian cancer. We carried out a phase I trial of ixabepilone plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in patients with advanced taxane-pretreated ovarian and breast cancer.

Analgesic Use Linked to Lower Estrogen Levels in Postmenopausal Women

Note: very preliminary/requires further research/article discusses primarily breast cancer/many limitations in study

Physicians' Awareness and Attitudes Toward Decision Aids for Patients With Cancer

Early Release, published online ahead of print Mar 30 2010
Journal of Clinical Oncology, 10.1200/JCO.2009.25.2874

Physicians' Awareness and Attitudes Toward Decision Aids for Patients With Cancer

Chantalle Brace, Selina Schmocker, Harden Huang, J. Charles Victor, Robin S. McLeod, and Erin D. Kennedy*
From the Department of Surgery, University Health Network–Toronto General Hospital; Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital; Dr Zane Cohen Digestive Disease Research Unit; and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Purpose: Patient decision aids are interventions designed to help patients make deliberative choices about their treatment options and have been shown to significantly improve patient outcomes. Although considered optimal, decision aids are not widely used in clinical practice for cancer treatment. The objectives of this study are to determine physicians' awareness and use of decision aids, physicians' perceptions of the major barriers to the use of decision aids, and physician characteristics predictive of use of decision aids in clinical practice.

Adhesions and incisional hernias following laparoscopic versus open surgery for colorectal cancer in the CLASICC trial

Note: colorectal cancer study but similar surgical complications

CONCLUSION: Although this study has not confirmed that laparoscopic surgery reduces rates of AIO and IH (incisional hernia)after colorectal cancer surgery, trends suggest that a reduction in conversion to open surgery and elimination of port-site hernias may produce such an effect.

Modified midline abdominal wound closure technique in complicated/high risk laparotomies

CONCLUSION: Patients with extensive widespread generalized peritonitis and metastatic abdominal tumours need special attention regarding wound closure. This modified technique of midline abdominal wound closure is associated with low incidence of wound dehiscence and incisional hernia formation.

Phase I clinical trials in 85 patients with gynecologic cancer: The M. D. Anderson Cancer Center experience.

Surgical Procedures and Morbidities of Diaphragmat... [J Am Coll Surg. 2010] - PubMed result

Surgical Procedures and Morbidities of Diaphragmatic Surgery in Patients Undergoing Initial or Interval Debulking Surgery for Advanced-Stage Ovarian Cancer.

Hernia: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Note: This is a very basic and general article.

Editorial: Highlighting the Science of Cancer Prevention — Cancer Prevention Research

Determinants of quality of life in patients with advanced cancer.

A phase I study of weekly temsirolimus and topotecan in the treatment of advanced and/or recurrent gynecologic malignancies

Translational research in the Gynecologic Oncology

Effects of tamoxifen and exemestane on cognitive functioning of postmenopausal patients with breast cancer: results from the neuropsychological side study of the tamoxifen and exemestane adjuvant multinational trial

Clinical Care Options - CME - Dr Maurie Markman updated CME March 3, 2010

Note: requires Password/Registration (free):

Oncology - Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Maurie Markman, MD
Date Released: October 01, 2009
Last Updated: March 03, 2010

Table of Contents

• Ovarian Cancer
  • Introduction
  • BRCA Mutations in Ovarian Cancer
  • Screening for Ovarian Cancer
  • Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
  • Surgical Staging of Ovarian Cancer
  • Primary Surgical Cytoreduction in Ovarian Cancer
  • Interval Surgical Cytoreduction and Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
  • Chemotherapy for High-Risk Early-Stage Ovarian Cancer
  • Primary Chemotherapy of Advanced Stage Ovarian Cancer
    • Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy of Small-Volume Residual Ovarian Cancer
    • Maintenance Therapy of Advanced Ovarian Cancer
  • Second-Line Therapy of Ovarian Cancer
  • Platinum-Sensitive vs Platinum-Resistant Recurrent Ovarian Cancer
  • Treatment of Platinum-Sensitive Recurrent Ovarian Cancer
  • Treatment of Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer
  • Intermediate Platinum Sensitivity
  • Carboplatin Hypersensitivity Reactions
  • Other Management Options in Recurrent/Resistant Ovarian Cancer
  • Future Research Directions in Ovarian Cancer
  • Tables and Figures
  • References

full access: The Art of Oncology: Life's Lessons Lost...and Learned -- Journal of Clinical Oncology

Taking Stock After Gene Patents Are Invalidated - NYTimes.com Andy Pollack

Potential Role of Lymphadenectomy in Advanced Ovarian Cancer: A Combined Exploratory Analysis of Three Prospectively Randomized Phase III Multicenter Trials - Journal of Clinical Oncology

"Purpose:  Primary surgery followed by platinum/taxane-based chemotherapy is the standard therapy in advanced ovarian cancer. The prognostic role of complete debulking has been well described; however, the impact of systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy and its interaction with biologic factors are still not fully defined.
Conclusion:  Lymphadenectomy in advanced ovarian cancer might offer benefit mainly to patients with complete intraperitoneal debulking. However, this hypothesis should be confirmed in the context of a prospectively randomized trial."

Outcomes of Fertility-Sparing Surgery for Stage I Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Proposal for Patient Selection - Journal of Clinical Oncology

"Forty-five (53.6%) of 84 patients who were nulliparous at fertility-sparing surgery and married at the time of investigation gave birth to 56 healthy children."
"Conclusion: Our data confirm that fertility-sparing surgery is a safe treatment for stage IA patients with favorable histology and suggest that stage IA patients with clear cell histology and stage IC patients with favorable histology can be candidates for fertility-sparing surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy."

Genetic Alliance Webinars Schedule | Genetic Alliance

Genetic Alliance Webinars Schedule | Genetic Alliance

2010 Annual Conference Scholarships Genetic Alliance

Note: some partial sponsorships available Submit your application by May 10th, 2010. We will respond to your request by May 17th, 2010.

Creighton University Dr Henry Lynch Earns National Award for Lifetime Work in Hereditary Cancer

"Lynch has long been considered a pioneer in the field of hereditary cancer research and prevention. As an internal medicine resident in the 1960s, Lynch met patients who had many family members who were affected by or had died from the same type of cancer; he hypothesized the cancer could be triggered by hereditary factors. That launched a lifelong pursuit to uncover genetic links to certain types of cancer that, at the time, his peers thought to be triggered almost solely by environmental causes.

In the 1970s, Lynch was the first to describe a hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome, findings that led to the identification of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutations that predispose women to this syndrome. Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), the most common form of hereditary colorectal cancer, is named after him as the Lynch syndrome."

Immunovaccine Begins Patient Recruitment for Phase 1 Trial of DPX-0907 Cancer Vaccine - MarketWatch

press release
March 29, 2010
Immunovaccine Begins Patient Recruitment for Phase 1 Trial of DPX-0907 Cancer Vaccine

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, Mar 29, 2010 -- Immunovaccine Inc. today announced that it has started screening patients for its Phase 1 clinical trial, investigating the company's therapeutic cancer vaccine, DPX-0907, as a treatment for patients with advanced stage breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. The primary goal of the trial is to establish the safety of the vaccine candidate which includes the DepoVax(TM) delivery platform. Secondary goals include an evaluation of dosing and an assessment of immune response.

Power Of Doctors Makes Elderly Patients Passive, Swedish Study Finds

Commentary: Estimating cancer survival--which is the right approach? -- Rachet and Coleman 39 (2): 611 -- International Journal of Epidemiology

Note: full paper requires paid subscription
"Cancer survival has become a key metric to assess the performance of health systems in delivering cancer care, both as part of national cancer programmes and in international comparisons. In this context, we need to know the survival of all cancer patients in the population, not just patients treated in a particular hospital or included in a clinical trial. Population-based survival estimates include all patients, including those who are not treated at all, either because their disease is too advanced at diagnosis for treatment of curative intent, or because they do not have access to the health-care system, or, in some countries, because of resource limitations such as the . . ."

Cancer Symptom Clusters: Old Concept But New Data

Abstract:
Individuals with cancer have multiple symptoms, which frequently co-occur. A nonrandom distribution of symptoms suggests a common mechanism. Symptom clusters (SCs) were considered part of various syndromes in the early years of medicine. The SC concept in clinical medicine is old. Symptom clusters were commonly described in the psychology/psychiatry and neurology literature. Symptom cluster may be defined either clinically or statistically. Statistically derived clusters can differ from clinically defined clusters. The clinical importance of statistically derived clusters is unclear. Pain-insomnia-fatigue and pain-depression-fatigue are commonly recognized clinical clusters. Nausea-vomiting and anxiety-depression are also statistically observed clusters.

Identification of early predictive imaging biomarkers and their relationship to serological angiogenic markers in patients with ovarian cancer with residual disease following cytotoxic therapy

Note: small study  
Background: Patients with recurrent ovarian cancer often achieve partial response following chemotherapy, resulting in persistent small volume disease. After completion of treatment, the dilemma of when to initiate subsequent chemotherapy arises. Identification of biomarkers that could be used to predict when subsequent treatment is needed would be of significant benefit. Design: ...A subgroup of patients provided plasma (blood) samples within which a panel of angiogenic biomarkers was quantified.  

Diabetes Raises Risk For Post-Surgical Mortality In Cancer Patients

"Care of diabetes before, during and after surgery is very important," Dr. Yeh said. "It should be part of the preoperative discussion."

Mutations in gene protecting body leads to development of cancer

Note: the PTEN mutation has and is being widely studied in ovarian cancer

"The study examined mutations in a gene called PTEN. People who inherit a mutated copy of this gene have Cowden syndrome, a condition that carries a high risk of cancer in a number of organs, including the breast, thyroid and ovary. In addition, PTEN is frequently mutated in normal body cells leading to prostate, lung and pancreatic cancers."

Myriad Loses Ruling Over Breast Cancer-Gene Patents (Update3) - BusinessWeek news article March 29, 2010

"The case is sure to be appealed to a court in Washington that specializes in patent law, and most likely to the Supreme Court.....

Years of Litigation:

He said today’s decision sets the stage for years of litigation to determine where the line is between what’s eligible for patents and what is not."

Medication errors involving oral chemotherapy - Cancer

Anxiety disorders in advanced cancer patients - Cancer

Combination IV paclitaxel, carboplatin showed viability at certain doses for gynecologic cancers

Daniel L. Clarke-Pearson Elected 42nd President of The Society of Gynecologic Oncologists - press release

Patient-caregiver concordance in symptom assessment and improvement in outcomes for patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy.

Simulation in surgical education -- Canadian Medical Association Journal

Note: for subscribers only

full free access: The detection, treatment, and biology of epithelial ovarian cancer

Note: click on 'pdf' for access to the full paper

Review
The detection, treatment, and biology of epithelial ovarian cancer

Jennifer A.A. Gubbels email, Nick Claussen email, Arvinder K. Kapur email, Joseph P. Connor email and Manish S. Patankar email

Journal of Ovarian Research 2010, 3:8doi:10.1186/1757-2215-3-8
Published: 29 March 2010
Abstract (provisional)

Ovarian cancer is particularly insidious in nature. Its ability to go undetected until late stage coupled with its non-descript signs and symptoms make it the seventh leading cause of cancer related deaths in women. Additionally, the lack of sensitive diagnostic tools and resistance to widely accepted chemotherapy regimens make ovarian cancer devastating to patients and families and frustrating to medical practitioners and researchers. Here, we provide an in-depth review of the theories describing the origin of ovarian cancer, molecular factors that influence its growth and development and standard methods for detection and treatment. Special emphasis is provided to interactions between ovarian tumors and the innate and adaptive immune system and attempts that are currently underway to devise novel immunotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of ovarian tumors.

Report: Tens of millions still opening junk e-mail | Security - CNET News

Note: for computer information CNET is a very good and reliable site

Genomics - HuGENet

See website for further information:

Population Research
Human Genome Epidemiology Network (HuGENet™)

HuGENetIn 1998, the National Office of Public Health Genomics established the Human Genome Epidemiology Network (HuGENet™) to help translate genetic research findings into opportunities for preventive medicine and public health by advancing the synthesis, interpretation, and dissemination of population-based data on human genetic variation in health and disease.

HuGENet™ is interested in establishing collaborations with individuals and organizations working on population-based research involving genetic information. Learn how to participate in HuGENet™.

EPGM-Munich Oncology - Gynecologic Oncology - webcasts from November 2009 (variety of topics included)

Note: free to view/no passwords required

Placebo Eases Cancer-Related Fatigue - Dr Markman/video

Note: site requires sign on/password - free
short video with Dr Markman - March 26, 2010

New supportive care assessment guideline available | Canadian Partnership Against Cancer

Note: search results show there is no reference either in the body of the paper nor in the references section to ovarian cancer

"Conclusion
Despite limitations in the research, there is reasonable evidence that psychosocial
and supportive care needs are under-addressed, that assessment improves patient
outcomes, and that some screening for distress and psychosocial assessment tools
have effective psychometric properties that help to “red flag” patients and support
comprehensive assessment. The recommendations in this guideline have been
designed to explain, ignite, and support the need for quality psychosocial health care
needs assessment and screening for distress in persons living with cancer. Using an
evidence base that is grounded in research and clinical practice, they stress the
importance of assessment as a first step in the explication of need and the
implementation of appropriate interventions. At the same time, this document has
suggested a range of important considerations as the field moves forward – from
needs assessment, clinical service provision, resource allocation, intervention, followup,
and outcome evaluation, to related research, and more. We believe the adoption
of these recommendations into cancer practice will bring us one step closer to a
person-focused cancer system that can improve patient and family experience of
living with cancer."

Obama Chooses Health Policy Scholar as the Director for Medicare and Medicaid - NYTimes.com

Note: I have met Dr Berwick (via WHO Patient Safety), an extraordinarily compassionate individual

"WASHINGTON — President Obama will soon name Dr. Donald M. Berwick, an iconoclastic scholar of health policy, to run Medicare and Medicaid, the programs that serve nearly one-third of all Americans, administration officials said Saturday.

Dr. Berwick, a pediatrician, is president of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Cambridge, Mass. He has repeatedly challenged doctors and hospitals to provide better care at a lower cost...."

"Dr. Berwick has denounced “the insanity of health care that costs too much and achieves too little.” But at the same time, he celebrates the work of hospitals that have reduced medical errors and deaths by the systematic application of proven techniques. And he wants to disseminate the secrets of communities that provide high-quality care at low cost."

A systematic literature review of vitamin D and ovarian cancer.

CONCLUSION: There is no consistent or strong evidence to support the claim made in numerous review articles that vitamin D exposures reduce the risk for ovarian cancer occurrence or mortality.

Characterization of the molecular differences between ovarian endometrioid carcinoma and ovarian serous carcinoma

"The histopathological diagnosis of high-grade endometrioid and serous carcinoma of the ovary is poorly reproducible under the current morphology based classification system, especially for anaplastic, high-grade tumours.......In EOCs, WT1 protein is observed in the majority of serous carcinomas and in up to 30% of endometrioid carcinomas. It is unclear whether the latter is a reflection of the actual incidence of WT1 protein expression in endometrioid carcinomas, or whether a significant number of high-grade serous carcinomas have been misclassified as endometrioid carcinoma........It was found that nuclear WT1 protein expression can identify misclassified high-grade endometrioid carcinomas and these tumours should be reassigned to serous histotype. Although low-grade endometrioid carcinomas rarely progress to high-grade carcinomas, a combined WT1-negative, TP53-positive immunophenotype may identify an uncommon high-grade subtype of ovarian endometrioid carcinoma."

Sleep disturbances in asymptomatic BRCA1/2 mutation carriers: women at high risk for breast-ovarian cancer

"Fatigue and carrier status were significant predictors of sleep quality, accounting for 15.7% of the variance.
In conclusion, asymptomatic BRCA1/2 carriers experience poor sleep quality compared to non-carriers and controls. Our study design is unique in that it offers insight regarding the nature of being an asymptomatic carrier, and affords the opportunity to examine factors that may contribute to the development of insomnia in women at risk for breast-ovarian cancer."

full access: Trastuzumab (Herceptin) sensitizes ovarian cancer cells to EGFR-targeted therapeutics

In research:

Background:  Early studies have demonstrated comparable levels of HER2/ErbB2 expression in both breast and ovarian cancer. Trastuzumab (Herceptin), a therapeutic monoclonal antibody directed against HER2, is FDA-approved for the treatment of both early and late stage breast cancer. However, clinical studies of trastuzumab in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients have not met the same level of success. Surprisingly, however, no reports have examined either the basis for primary trastuzumab resistance in ovarian cancer or potential ways of salvaging trastuzumab as a potential ovarian cancer therapeutic.

JAMA -- Ensuring Integrity in Industry-Sponsored Research: Primum Non Nocere, Revisited, March 24/31, 2010 (extract)

"The most fundamental principle of medicine, primum non nocere, holds for every physician, whether functioning as a clinician providing direct patient care; as a researcher, reviewer, or editor involved in medical publishing; or as an administrator overseeing an academic institution, health care organization, or pharmaceutical company research program. In all situations affecting patients, physicians must do no harm.

The Commentary in this issue of JAMA by Nissen describes a disturbing example of inappropriate conduct surrounding an industry-sponsored clinical trial of rosiglitazone and reveals a situation in which concerns about preserving market share apparently trumped concerns about the potential for causing patient harm. Analyzing this situation and others involving misleading reporting and possible misrepresentation of industry-sponsored research has become only too common, and it appears that physicians functioning at several levels failed to put the well-being of patients first."

Tweet Cloud (for fun)

Vitamin E neuroprotection for cisplatin neuropathy: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial -- Neurology

Conclusions: This phase III study confirms the neuroprotective role of vitamin E against cisplatin peripheral neurotoxicity. Vitamin E supplementation should be adopted in patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Arrayit Signs on Docro to Help Ovarian Cancer Diagnostic Gain FDA Clearance GenomeWeb

Vermillion's OVA1 became the first protein-based in vitro diagnostic multivariate index assay to receive FDA clearance [See PM 09/17/09] and earlier this month it and Quest Diagnostics began marketing OVA1.

In addition, Correlogic is in discussions with the FDA about its OvaCheck test,

and

Healthlinx, which launched its test called OvPlex in the UK in February, has said that it may launch the test in the US next year, if it receives regulatory approval.

This week, Arrayit said that OvaDx will be the market's first "comprehensive diagnostic for ovarian cancer" and will be targeted to all women over the age of 35.

Delivering consensus from the Asian Oncology Summit 2009 : The Lancet Oncology

The webtable shows a breakdown of the country of origin of all participants in the workshops and among the authorship of the resultant papers. Participants represented 21 different countries, of which 15 were Asian. Each workshop had about 40—100 attendees, and the majority of authors work in Asian hospitals. The manuscripts are a wonderful testament to the resources and expertise available in Asia, and we hope they will provide a valuable resource of information to inform practice and provide a foundation for future developments of oncology services throughout the region.

The 2nd Asian Oncology Summit will be held in Bali, Indonesia, on April 9—11, 2010. See www.asianoncologysummit.com for more details.

The Lancet Student » Lancet Seminar: Colorectal cancer including genetics (eg: Lynch Syndrome)

Oprah picks inspirational painting from Dallas artist Shannon Kincaid

From unwanted interference to indispensable partner - Masterpiece - Issues 35 - Articles - Cancer World - Education & knowledge through people & facts

From unwanted interference to indispensable partner

"Three years after taking up the presidency of Europe’s first international breast cancer coalition, Gloria Freilich faced her most embarrassing moment. It was 1997 and she had started to address a major meeting of oncologists in Lisbon, talking about her new organisation, designed by women for women, called Europa Donna. Then a doctor stood up and challenged her. What right did a layperson, he asked, have to address a thousand oncologists at a medical meeting?..."

The ethics of dietary supplements and natural health products in pharmacy practice: a systematic documentary analysis

CBC Toronto | Features | First, the Bad News - audio (Princess Margaret Hospital)

Note: Dr Oza speaks briefly about a new endometrial cancer therapy and mentions ovarian cancer

CCR Connections (News NIH) - Big Things in Small Packages: Small RNAs Play a Big Role in Cancer Biology

"Exquisitely tuned gene expression is essential to orchestrate both the development and functioning of the myriad cell types in the human body. When that tuning goes awry, one result is cancer. Small microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged relatively recently as key modulators of gene expression, acting at a stage between transcription of the genes and translation into proteins. Although they are tiny, miRNAs—at a little over 20 nucleotides long—pack a big punch since each regulates a variety of genes, and they are involved in diverse pathological processes, including cell proliferation and death...."

CCR Connections (News at NIH) - A Cure for the Incurable? Using the Body's Immune System to Treat Metastatic Cancers

Low-dose gabapentin as useful adjuvant to opioids for neuropathic cancer pain when combined with low-dose imipramine

Age and gender differences in symptom intensity and symptom clusters among patients with metastatic cancer

Note: abstract denotes 'common cancers' only, no reference to ovarian cancer

"Analyses of symptom clusters revealed that fatigue and drowsiness were included in the cluster of pain, nausea, and appetite in younger but not older patients. In men, pain clustered together with depression and anxiety; for women, physical and psychological symptoms formed separate clusters.

CONCLUSIONS: In patients with advanced cancers, symptom patterns differ according to age and gender. Palliative interventions tailored for symptoms that are more prominent in specific patient subgroups may offer greater therapeutic benefit."

abstract: Ensuring a healthy and productive workforce: comparing the generosity of paid sick day and sick leave policies in 22 countries

full access: NEJM -- Untangling the Web -- Patients, Doctors, and the Internet

March 24th: No Link to Femur Fractures Found with Bisphosphonates - in Endocrinology, Osteoporosis

Action Points  

---

• Explain to interested patients that although this study did not find a link, some case reports have suggested that atypical fractures of the femur may be more common in patients treated with bisphosphonates, the most common drugs for treating osteoporosis.
• Explain that the FDA has begun a formal safety inquiry into this potential risk, but it has emphasized that it has not yet found evidence to suggest that physicians or patients should avoid these drugs.

NIH Genetic Testing Registry

With an increasing number of genetic tests available, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recognizes the importance of making information about these tests easily accessible to researchers, patients, consumers, health care providers, payers, and others. Therefore, NIH is initiating the development of the Genetic Testing Registry (GTR), an online resource that will provide a centralized location for test developers and manufacturers to voluntarily submit test information such as indications for use, validity data, and evidence of the test’s usefulness. The overarching goal of the GTR is to advance the public health and research into the genetic basis of health and disease.

As such, the Registry will have several key functions:

* Encourage providers of genetic tests to enhance transparency by publicly sharing information about the availability and utility of their tests;
* Provide an information resource for the public, including researchers, health care providers and patients, to locate laboratories that offer particular tests; and
* Facilitate genetic and genomic data-sharing for research and new scientific discoveries.

Interacting with stakeholders—such as laboratory test developers, manufacturers, health care providers, patient and consumer groups, and researchers—will be a critical part of developing the GTR.

NIH Announces Genetic Testing Registry, March 18, 2010 News Release - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

NIH Announces Genetic Testing Registry
Database to Fill Information Gaps and Serve as Research Resource

The National Institutes of Health announced today that it is creating a public database that researchers, consumers, health care providers, and others can search for information submitted voluntarily by genetic test providers. The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) aims to enhance access to information about the availability, validity, and usefulness of genetic tests. More information about the Genetic Testing Registry and NCBI is available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gtr/.

PLoS ONE: Bias Due to Changes in Specified Outcomes during the Systematic Review Process

Thermo Fisher Extends Biomarker Pact with Universities News | Proteomics | GenomeWeb

"NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Thermo Fisher Scientific today said that it has extended a biomarker research effort with George Mason University's Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM), Johns Hopkins University, and Toronto's University Health Network (UHN)."

China Continues to Consult NCCN for Guidance on Cancer Treatment

"Programs continue into the month of April; NCCN Guidelines Symposia on Ovarian Cancer, Cervical Cancer, and Head & Neck Cancers will be held on April 17 in Beijing."

Underdiagnosis of Lynch Syndrome Involves More than Family History Criteria

CONCLUSIONS:
Lynch syndrome is under-recognized, even when patients have clear criteria unrelated to family history. Multifaceted strategies focused on reducing providers' cognitive errors and harnessing EHR capabilities to improve recognition of Lynch syndrome are needed."

financial news - Picoplatin - UPDATE 3-Poniard suspends regulatory efforts on key drug | Reuters

Note: read the whole article "The company said it would focus its resources on developing clinical strategies for picoplatin in small cell lung cancer, as well as colorectal, prostate and ovarian cancers."

Information for consumers | The Cochrane Collaboration

The Cochrane Collaboration | Working together to provide the best evidence for health care

The Cochrane Collaboration is an international, independent, not-for-profit organisation of over 27,000 contributors from more than 100 countries, dedicated to making up-to-date, accurate information about the effects of health care readily available worldwide.

We are world leaders in evidence-based health care

Our contributors work together to produce systematic assessments of healthcare interventions, known as Cochrane Reviews, which are published online in The Cochrane Library. Cochrane Reviews are intended to help providers, practitioners and patients make informed decisions about health care, and are the most comprehensive, reliable and relevant source of evidence on which to base these decisions.

A Study of Stimuvax® in Combination With Hormonal Treatment Versus Hormonal Treatment Alone for First-line Therapy of Endocrine-sensitive Advanced Breast Cancer - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov

Note: actively recruiting as at March 24th, 2010
A Study of Stimuvax® in Combination With Hormonal Treatment Versus Hormonal Treatment Alone for First-line Therapy of Endocrine-sensitive Advanced Breast Cancer - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov

Merck KGaA halts cancer vaccine trial - MarketWatch

"STRIDE is a randomized, double-blind, controlled, multi-center Phase III study designed to determine if Stimuvax can extend progression free survival in patients treated with hormonal therapy who have inoperable, locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic breast cancer."

website: Australian Society of Gynaecologic Oncologists ASGO

Search of: COTI-2 - Search Details - ClinicalTrials.gov

Found no studies with search of: COTI-2

financial news: Critical Outcome Technologies Inc. Invited to Present Data on COTI-2 at US Oncology Summit (in research)

Note: in research

About COTI-2

COTI-2 is a novel small molecule that acts by inhibition of Akt/PKB (Protein kinase B) phosphorylation that leads to caspase-9 activation in cancer cells resulting in apoptosis or programmed cell death. COTI-2 is easily synthesized and has good in vitro and in vivo efficacy against multiple cancers including small cell lung, non-small cell lung, colon, brain, ovarian, endometrial and pancreatic cancers. COTI-2 test results show it to be highly effective as a single agent therapy and as a combination therapy in a number of animal models of human cancers. COTI-2 differs from other cancer treatments in that other treatments involve the killing of all growing and dividing cells in the body resulting in significant toxic side effects while COTI-2 appears to target and destroy cancer cells only and has demonstrated low toxicity in normal human cells compared to human cancer cells.

Current Controlled Trials - Database of Clinical Trials - Europe

Note: this is a database of European clinical trials - the database has been around for many years  

Search for trials: Trials uniquely identified by an ISRCTN Search across multiple registers (including the NHS in England and US ClinicalTrials.gov)

Trends in the survival of patients diagnosed with cancer in female genital organs in the Nordic countries 1964-2003 followed up to the end of 2006

Primary peritoneal and ovarian cancers: an epidemiological comparative analysis

"The difference in the risk factor associations between invasive serous PPC and EOC cancers suggests divergent molecular development of peritoneal and ovarian cancers. A larger study to determine risk factors for invasive serous PPC is warranted."

NCI Cancer Bulletin: Training Providers and Patients to Talk about End-of-Life Care

March 23, 2010 - NCI: Fatigue: Is it Normal or Pathological? And How Can We Best Treat It?

"Despite years of scientific study of cancer-related fatigue (CRF), questions related to its definition, measurement, underlying mechanisms, and effective interventions remain unanswered. Yet, the high prevalence of CRF and its negative effects on quality-of-life outcomes, including work and family functioning, make it a critical problem for cancer patients and survivors. Clearly, more research is needed to reduce morbidity associated with this symptom.

To address this, on April 13 and 14, NCI’s Symptom Management and Health-related Quality of Life Steering Committee will convene a closed-attendance state-of-the-science meeting on CRF, which I will chair. During this meeting, we will summarize the science, address gaps in knowledge that require further study, and develop a focused agenda for future research......

Perhaps the best way to appreciate the urgent need to better understand and treat CRF is from the perspective of cancer patients and survivors who have experienced it. In discussing CRF, invariably they talk about their inability to get out of the house, work, cook meals and do dishes, get up the stairs to go to bed, or do half the things they did before. It is for these reasons that scientists need to fill the gaps in our knowledge of CRF."

(free) Registration page: Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Genetic Risk and Treatment Updates - U of Michigan/Sunnybrook Toronto

April teleconference on triple-negative breast cancer risk and updates

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Genetic Risk and Treatment Updates

Join Living Beyond Breast Cancer and The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation for our next free teleconference, Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Genetic Risk and Treatment Updates, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Thursday, April 15.

SGO: Targeting Platelets May Help Ovarian Cancer - in Meeting Coverage

MedPage Today Action Points

• Explain to patients that abnormal platelet levels or activity may play a role in ovarian cancer.


• The findings are based on a retrospective cohort study and laboratory experiments involving a preclinical model of ovarian cancer.


• Note that this study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Stanford University Researcher and Hemispherx Biopharma Consultant Present New Integrative Immunotherapy Approach - news item

"PHILADELPHIA, Mar 23, 2010 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. announced today the publication of an editorial entitled "TLR3 agonists as immunotherapeutic agents," published in the March 15, 2010 edition of Immunotherapy (2010) 2(2), 137-140, co-authored by Jonathan S. Berek, MD, Chairman, Stanford University School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Christopher F. Nicodemus, MD, Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer, Advanced Immune Therapeutics, Inc., and HEB Consultant.
Drs. Berek and Nicodemus have collaborated for more than a decade seeking to identify novel strategies to mobilize immunity to treat cancer and have conducted and published numerous preclinical and clinical studies, most notably in the field of ovarian cancer. Their long standing research interests form the basis for an active collaboration with the Company to evaluate the potential for Ampligen(R) (rintatolimod, Poly I : Poly C12U) and TLR3 agonists as cancer immunotherapeutics...."

Sexuality and intimacy after gynecological cancer

"The essential part of success is the providers appreciation of this serous problem and willingness and comfort in addressing it."

Doubling time of serum CA125 is an independent prognostic factor for survival in patients with (early stage) ovarian cancer relapsing after first-line chemotherapy

"There is a lack of data in early-stage ovarian cancer on the pattern of CA-125," said Chan. "Previous studies generally had no comprehensive staging and no central pathology review."
The Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) 157 trial provided an opportunity to examine the change in CA-125 and its relationship to outcomes in women with early-stage ovarian cancer. The trial involved 427 women with stage I-II epithelial ovarian cancer. They were randomized to receive three or six cycles of chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel.
All patients had detailed surgical staging before randomization. Chan said detailed information about CA-125 levels was available for 350 participants in the trial.

Phase II trial of the histone deacetylase inhibitor belinostat in women with platinum resistant epithelial ovarian cancer and micropapillary (LMP) ovarian tumours

Phase II trial of the histone deacetylase inhibitor belinostat in women with platinum resistant epithelial ovarian cancer and micropapillary (LMP) ovarian tumours.

CONCLUSIONS: Belinostat is well tolerated in both patient groups and shows some activity in patients with micropapillary (LMP) disease.

Endometrial and ovarian carcinomas with undifferen... [Mod Pathol. 2010] - PubMed result

"Carcinomas of the endometrium and ovary with undifferentiated components are uncommon neoplasms that are likely underdiagnosed.
They are important to recognize as they have been shown to be clinically aggressive.....Most patients (58% of endometrial and 83% of ovarian carcinomas with undifferentiated components) presented at advanced stages (FIGO III-IV).. ... The tumors were frequently misdiagnosed; they received a wide range of diagnoses, including FIGO grade 2 or 3 endometrioid carcinoma, carcinosarcoma, high-grade sarcoma including endometrial stromal sarcoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma, lymphoma, granulosa cell tumor and epithelioid sarcoma.... They were predominantly negative for neuroendocrine markers, smooth muscle markers and estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor. Mismatch repair protein expression by immunohistochemistry was evaluated in 17 cases, and 8 (47%) were abnormal (7 with loss of MLH1/PMS2 and 1 with MSH6 loss)....Endometrial and ovarian carcinomas with undifferentiated components have a broad histologic differential diagnosis, but they show specific histologic features that should enable accurate diagnosis.
These tumors can occur in young women, may be associated with microsatellite instability and behave in a clinically aggressive manner."
J Modern Pathology

Canadian Medical Association Journal: Opinion 'No more Dithering on e-health"

No more dithering on e-health: let’s keep patients safe instead
March 1, 2010

"Our slow progress on electronic health records should act as a call to action. An electronic health record system with access for everyone — family physicians, consultants, pharmacists, hospitals, managers and researchers — will save lives and improve health outcomes. Canadians deserve nothing less."

Medical News: SGO: Angiogenesis Inhibitor Scores Split Decision - in Meeting Coverage, SGO (enzastaurin and bevacizumab (Avastin)

Andrew Pollack Versus Personal Genomics? Not Quite GenomeWeb

Red Cell Distribution Width and the Risk of Death in Middle-aged and Older Adults

Philadelphia News Mourns Professor’s Death Karen Buhler-Wilkerson (nurse/author)

Proof In Humans Of RNA Interference Using Targeted Nanoparticles - Health News - redOrbit

In research

The discovery of RNA interference, the mechanism by which double strands of RNA silence genes, won researchers Andrew Fire and Craig Mello the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.... "RNAi is a new way to stop the production of proteins," says Davis. What makes it such a potentially powerful tool, he adds, is the fact that its target is not a protein. The vulnerable areas of a protein may be hidden within its three-dimensional folds, making it difficult for many therapeutics to reach them. In contrast, RNA interference targets the messenger RNA (mRNA) that encodes the information needed to make a protein in the first place. "In principle," says Davis, "that means every protein now is druggable because its inhibition is accomplished by destroying the mRNA. And we can go after mRNAs in a very designed way given all the genomic data that are and will become available."

Arrayit Corporation - FDA / OvaDx - financial news

"Arrayit's OvaDx Pre-Symptomatic Ovarian Cancer Test will be the market's first comprehensive diagnostic screen for ovarian cancer, and will be recommended for all women over the age of 35. OvaDx uses approximately 100 proteomic biomarkers in a microarray format to identify molecular beacons of ovarian cancer that accumulate in the bloodstream as a result of the body's natural immune response to developing ovarian tumors. Arrayit's microarray test, which detects both early and late stage ovarian cancer..."cont'd

Medical News: SGO: Test Aids Preop Decisions About Ovarian Masses - in Meeting Coverage, SGO - OVA1

"...However, the test's low specificity raised some concern, as verbalized by an invited discussant of the study." MedPage Today Action Points * Explain to patients that in this study, use of a laboratory test improved the presurgical evaluation of ovarian tumors compared with physician clinical assessment alone. * Note that the test is for preoperative assessment of ovarian tumors and is not a screening or diagnostic test. * Note that this study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Medical News: SGO: Low Cancer Risk with Septated Ovarian Tumors - in Meeting Coverage, SGO

The outcomes of ovarian cancer treatment are better when provided by gynecologic oncologists and in specialized hospitals: a systematic review

Centre for Review and Dissemination - Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE)

Authors' objectives:
To determine the efficacy of specialised care for patients with ovarian cancer.
Authors' conclusions:The outcome of ovarian cancer was better when treatment was provided in specialised settings (gynecologic oncologists or in specialised hospitals) than that provided in non-specialised settings.

CRD commentary:
"Given the limitations and the lack of reported methodology in the review process, although the results appeared promising the authors conclusion appears to be overstated."

OU Medical Center and Edmond Medical Center To Combine

OKLAHOMA CITY/EDMOND Note: includes information on womens' health including gynecologic oncology

Medical News March 21st : SGO: Hunt for Ovarian Regimen Focuses on Carboplatin - in Meeting Coverage, SGO

2009 media item: HST Global and HMD team up to develop curriculum for FIT protocol

" HSTC) today announced a Partnership with Dr. James W. Forsythe to facilitate the development of a curriculum for the licensing and/or certification to administer Dr. Forsythe’s immune therapy in clinics to be built or acquired by HST Global, Inc. Dr. Forsythe brings over thirty years of medical and research experience including expertise in the research and clinical application of his “Forsythe Immune Therapy” (FIT).
As previously announced, James W. Forsythe, MD, HMD, board certified oncologist and a member of HST Global Inc.’s Board of Directors and Head of the Scientific Advisory Board, was featured in Suzanne Somers’ book Knockout. Due to the overwhelming response to the information and protocol featured in Ms. Somers’ book, Dr. Forsythe’s clinic has become inundated with new patient requests and referrals. Due to this dramatic increase in both new patient inquiries and volume, it has become necessary to increase the staff at Dr Forsythe’s facility, The Cancer Screening and Treatment Center of Nevada."

HST Global - media item "FIT protocol" Dr Forsythe

March 9, 2010
HAMPTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HST Global, Inc. (OTCBB:HSTC)today announced that Dr. James Forsythe, MD, HMD, is experiencing continuous success with his Forsythe Immune Therapy (FIT) Protocol. Dr. James Forsythe, MD, HMD, is a board certified oncologist and a member of HST Global Inc.’s Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board.

Dr. Forsythe’s existing study is meeting with 70-80% efficacy in clinical treatment of Stage IV cancers in a test of 450 patients. The highlight of the study is in stage IV prostate cancer where they have met with 86% efficacy with prostate cancer patients over 55 months through the application of his "FIT" Protocol.

Ronald Howell President and CEO of HST Global, Inc. stated, "We are encouraged by the continued success Dr. Forsythe is experiencing with his FIT protocol. The updated study results demonstrate the efficacy of the FIT Protocol."

Pregabalin for acute and chronic pain in adults - Cochrane Collaboration review

Note: includes numerous comments by a variety of healthcare professional disciplines

BACKGROUND:
Antiepileptic drugs have been used in pain management since the 1960s. Pregabalin is a recently developed antiepileptic drug also used in management of chronic neuropathic pain conditions.

CONCLUSIONS:
Pregabalin has proven efficacy in neuropathic pain conditions and fibromyalgia. A minority of patients will have substantial benefit with pregabalin, and more will have moderate benefit. Many will have no or trivial benefit, or will discontinue because of adverse events. Individualisation of treatment is needed to maximise pain relief and minimise adverse events. There is no evidence to support the use of pregabalin in acute pain scenarios.

Co-operation between patient organisations and the drug industry in Finland

Placebo interventions for all clinical conditions. Cochrane Database Systematic Rev. 2010 Jan 20

Note: includes comments from numerous healthcare professional disciplines

Epidemiology of Ovarian Cancer in African American Women | Institute for Health Research and Policy | University of Illinois, Chicago

Principal investigator
Therese A. Dolecek, PhD
Co-investigator(s)
Faith G. Davis, PhD
Bridget McCarthy, PhD

Funding Agency
National Cancer Institute through Duke University

Start date
04/01/2010
End date
03/31/2015
Total award
$1,150,609

About this grant
This grant is a subcontract of a larger grant at Duke University.
Parent Study
Epidemiology of Ovarian Cancer in African American Women
PI of Parent Study
Joellen Schildkraut, PhD, MPH
Duke University

Consumers Slow to Embrace the Age of Genomics - NYTimescom Andy Pollack

YouTube - BEAT ovarian cancer with Ovacome including survivour's interviews

Note: Survivour's Laurain and Gillian

News - Transvaginal Ultrasound May Reduce Ovarian Tumour Surgeries: Presented at SGO

Reference Source: Presentation title: Risk of Malignancy in Sonographically Confirmed Septated Cystic Ovarian Tumors. Abstract 53

Alcohol and gynecological cancers: an overview.

"In conclusion, the current body of evidence, which is inadequate for several sites, suggests no association between alcohol consumption and risk of gynecological cancers."

BRCA1 as a Therapeutic Target in Sporadic Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

CBC News - Health - Give control of electronic health records back to patients

"Lots of people don't know [an EPHR] is not available. They don't know they don't already have an electronic health record," says Alex Jadad, head of the Toronto Centre for Global eHealth Innovation at the University of Toronto....."For a patient's voice to be heard, who should they go to, to complain about things?" Jadad says to me. A family doctor? A hospital. All hospitals in their city? A province? Ottawa? Everyone seems to have taken some responsibility for ensuring health records become digitalized, and yet nobody seems specifically in charge of making sure it happens for patients."

Note:  Comments are open and welcome until Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 11:59 p.m.

media item: Gynecologic Oncologists Advance Promising Intraperitoneal Approach - Carboplatin IP/phase 111 studies

"The present studies provide additional useful data on carboplatin and the feasibility of intraperitoneal infusion. Specifically, data relating to maximum tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicity derived from these studies will be implemented in advanced phase-III research trials."

5 Amazing Infographics For the Health Conscious

"Researching topics such as health, diet, and (especially) the effectiveness of dietary supplements can be hard and time-consuming. Obscured by thousands of marketing tricks, finding the truth takes days, if not weeks of research.

So, when someone puts in the time to do the research and create an infographic that makes certain aspects of these topics easy to understand, it can be a huge time saver. Read on for some of the best health-related infographics we’ve found online.

As always, consider the figures in these infographics with a grain of salt. No one guarantees that the numbers are correct, and some of them are definitely open to interpretation."


1. Dietary Supplements
2. Should You Drink Tap Water?
3. Obesity in the USA
4. The Cost of Health Care
5. Fatality Rates for Different Diseases

GeneCards: List of Disease Genes

Note: genes/disease relevance/links to further information

examples:

BRCA2 breast cancer 2, early onset 13q12.3

* Breast-ovarian cancer, familial, 2
* Fanconi anemia, complementation group D1
* Prostate cancer
* Breast cancer, male, susceptibility to
* Wilms tumor
* Medulloblastoma
* Glioblastoma
* Pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
* Pancreatic cancer

MSH2 mutS homolog 2, colon cancer, nonpolyposis type 1 (E. coli) 2p22-p21

* Colorectal cancer, hereditary nonpolyposis, type 1
* Muir-Torre syndrome
* Mismatch repair cancer syndrome

video from SGO meeting - Vermillion/OVA1

interview: cost of the test is $650.00 U.S. (video also speaks about Medicare/insurance)

Medical News: SGO: New Option for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer? - in "Carboplatin-PLD" Meeting Coverage, SGO

Source reference: Pujade-Lauraine E, et al "Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin and carboplatin versus paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer in late relapse" SGO 2010; Abstract SAS 2

More study needed on vitamin D-ovarian cancer link | Reuters

Translational research in the Gynecologic Oncology Group: Evaluation of ovarian cancer markers, profiles, and novel therapies.

The BRCAPRO 5.0 model is a useful tool in genetic counseling and clinical management of male breast cancer cases.

"BRCAPRO version 5.0 can be particularly useful in dealing with non-familial MBC, a circumstance that often represents a challenging situation in genetic counseling."

Tamoxifen for relapse of ovarian cancer. Cochrane Collaboration review (abstract)

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We are unable to make any evidence-based recommendations as we found no comparative studies assessing the effectiveness of tamoxifen in women with recurrent ovarian cancer. There is limited evidence on anti-tumour activity from phase 2 studies, but these contain no data on the effect of tamoxifen on symptom control, QOL or the prolongation of life.

Plain language summary

No evidence to suggest tamoxifen benefits patients with relapsed ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer often spreads before symptoms show. Cytotoxic drugs are often only partly effective and cause severe side-effects. The main aims of treatment for relapsed disease are symptom control and prolongation of life. No data from RCTs or non-RCTs were found, so there was no evidence that tamoxifen was effective and safe as a treatment for relapsed ovarian cancer. Laboratory studies suggest tamoxifen may be effective as a treatment for women with ovarian cancer. Although, uncontrolled non-comparative trials on patients with relapsed ovarian cancer showed tamoxifen may shrink or stabilise tumours in a small number, there is a strong need for an RCT or good quality non-randomised comparative studies to determine the effectiveness and safety of tamoxifen in terms of overall survival, tumour response, symptom control, quality of life and adverse events.

News - Temsirolimus Shows Promise for Ovarian, Peritoneal Cancers: Presented at SGO

"The researchers concluded that temsirolimus may have modest cytostatic activity in patients with prior chemotherapy and should be investigated further. Dr. Behbakht suggested that the agent might be combined with bevacizumab for increased activity and is already being studied in combination with paclitaxel. He noted that isolation, enumeration, and characterisation of CTCs from patients should also be investigated in further trials."

News - Bevacizumab Plus Docetaxel Shows Promise for Ovarian Cancer, No Surprising Toxicities: Presented at SGO

NIH Foundation, Biomarkers Consortium Team on Cancer Trials (breast) GenomeWeb

"...The clinical trials will use Agendia's MammaPrint test and TargetPrint Her2 risk scores, as well as estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status information and MRI to help determine eligibility for the trial.
The large-scale trial will involve more than twenty university hospitals and medical centers spread around the country, including The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Mayo Clinic in Arizona and Minnesota, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and a number of others...."

article: NIH Plans Genetic Testing Registry GenomeWeb

NIH Plans Genetic Testing Registry
March 18, 2010

"NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – The National Institutes of Health is starting a public database on genetic testing that will allow consumers, researchers, health care providers, and others search through information submitted by genetic test providers, NIH said today....The GTR, which is expected to be available in 2011, will be overseen by NIH's Office of the Director, and its development will be handled by the National Center for Biotechnology Information."

MRI for breast cancer: who benefits, who is harmed? Cancer World - Education & knowledge through people & facts

full access: Lovastatin induces apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells and synergizes with doxorubicin: potential therapeutic relevance - U of T

Conclusions:
The results of this research provide pre-clinical data to warrant further evaluation of statins as potential anti-cancer agents to treat ovarian carcinoma. Many statins are inexpensive, off-patent generic drugs that are immediately available for use as anti-cancer agents. We provide evidence that lovastatin triggers apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells as a single agent by a mevalonate-dependent mechanism. Moreover, we also show lovastatin synergizes with doxorubicin, an agent administered for recurrent disease. This synergy occurs by a novel mevalonate-independent mechanism that antagonizes drug resistance, likely by inhibiting P-glycoprotein. These data raise important issues that may impact how statins can best be included in chemotherapy regimens.

The use of senna with docusate for postoperative constipation after pelvic reconstructive surgery: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

ScienceDirect - Gynecologic Oncology : The molecular genetic basis of ovarian cancer and its roadmap towards a better treatment

Note: subscription required )$$$)

The molecular genetic basis of ovarian cancer and its roadmap towards a better treatment

Social Science & Medicine : Scripting patienthood with patient clothing

Re: judging based on clothing/dress

Medicines & Drugs | Information leaflets on specific medicines and drugs | Patient UK

Australia: Consumer medicine information

Health Canada Drug Product Database (DPD)

Drug Information Portal - U.S. National Library of Medicine - Quick Access to Quality Drug Information (searchable)

The Peninsula On-line: Qatar's (English) Women cancer patients face family turmoil

Note: (from Wiki) Qatar, also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is an Arab emirate in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the larger Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south; otherwise the Persian Gulf surrounds the state. A strait of the Persian Gulf separates Qatar from the relatively nearby island nation of Bahrain. “Every woman is at risk for developing a gynaecologic cancer,” said Dr Jeremie Arash Rafii Tabrizi, assistant professor of genetic medicine in obstetrics and gynecology at WCMC-Q. “This year, over 78,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed, and over 28,000 will die from gynecologic cancer — and the numbers, percentage-wise, are similar in the Middle East,” he said at a lecture on Women and Cancer as a part of the WCMC-Q’s Medicine and U lecture series, recently.

“The perception of cancer is different in each society. In the Middle East in particular, the diagnosis of any cancer is associated with a high level of anxiety—and it is often viewed as having a shameful disease. The loss of fertility related to cancer treatment also can have a significant impact on women and their families.”

CureToday.com: Spring 2010 Article - "Special Report" Mammogram issue/controversies

Medical News: SGO: Drug Combination Slows Recurrent Ovarian Cancer - Taxotere + Carboplatin

"Median PFS was almost 14 months with combination therapy, while sequential administration of docetaxel (Taxotere) and carboplatin was associated with a median PFS of about eight months."

NEJM -- Performance of Common Genetic Variants in Breast-Cancer Risk Models

Note: full text is pay-per-view
Conclusions The inclusion of newly discovered genetic factors modestly improved the performance of risk models for breast cancer. The level of predicted breast-cancer risk among most women changed little after the addition of currently available genetic information.

news article: Nevada - Deal reached for new cancer clinic at UMC

Granulosa Cell Tumor Of The Ovary Foundation - [gctf.org]

news article: Another Reason Not to Get Your Genes Scanned (gene variants)

"Scientists have discovered numerous gene variants that slightly boost the risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and other common illnesses in recent years. It’s pioneering science. But is the deluge of genetic data useful for doctors and patients?..."

updated March 17th: NAMS updates statement on postmenopausal estrogen, progestogen

press release: New Data Indicate Effectiveness of Clarient's Ovotax(TM) Test for Ovarian Cancer "TLE3"

The study summary and results may be found at http://www.clarientinc.com/Ovotax

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Clarient, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLRT), a premier technology and services resource for pathologists, oncologists and the pharmaceutical industry, today announced that data from a new study shows that Clarient's Ovotax™ assay may effectively predict which ovarian cancer patients will respond favorably to taxane therapy and could, therefore, be spared the potential side effects of this rigorous and sometimes toxic chemotherapy agent. The study was presented yesterday at the national meeting on Women's Cancer of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists by Janelle Fauci, M.D. of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Alabama, Birmingham (UAB).

The study, titled "Expression of TLE3 Predicts Response to Taxane Therapy in Ovarian Carcinoma," included 293 carcinoma samples. Ovotax is a single antibody immunohistochemistry test created to detect the expression of TLE3 in an ovarian tumor and thereby indicate whether the patient will respond favorably to taxane therapy.

CBC News - Nfld. & Labrador - Danny Williams lashes out at N.L. doctors (pathology issues)

"You know what is missing in all of this is, which is the most important thing, which is what we worry about, what the minister of health worries about, is the patient. Where's the patient in all of this? Did Mr. Ritter or Dr. Lewis, or anybody who is trying to point the finger at the minister, talk about the patient?"

U.S. Director's Consumer Liaison Group - Genomis program/update

The meeting focuses on NCI genomics programs, including updates and discussion of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).  TCGA is NCI’s comprehensive program to map the genetic changes involved in cancer.  In addition to a focus on genomic research in cancer, the DCLG will engage in discussion with the NCI Director about the NCI budget and resource constraints. A draft agenda will be available online shortly.

Meeting: NCI Director’s Consumer Liaison Group Place:  Natcher Conference Center Building 45, NIH Campus Bethesda, MD Online Access: http://videocast.nih.gov
Schedule:
Wednesday, March 24	Thursday, March 25	Friday, March 26
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.	8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.	8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

update - OVA1 in Canada

I just received a message from OVA1 that the test is available in Canada, so I have resent another message asking for locations and cost. Stay tuned....

Oncology Residents' Perspectives on Communication Skills and Shared Decision Making

Omega-3 fatty acids for neuropathic pain: case series

CONCLUSIONS: This first-ever reported case series suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may be of benefit in the management of patients with neuropathic pain. Further investigations with randomized controlled trials in a more specific neuropathic pain population would be warranted.

Bilateral Oophorectomy versus Ovarian Conservation: Effects on Long-term Women's Health

J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2010 March - April

Bilateral Oophorectomy versus Ovarian Conservation: Effects on Long-term Women's Health.
Parker WH.
John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California.

Bilateral oophorectomy at the time of hysterectomy for benign disease is commonly practiced to prevent the subsequent development of ovarian cancer. Currently, bilateral oophorectomy is performed in 55% of all U.S. women having a hysterectomy, with approximately 300 000 prophylactic oophorectomies performed every year. Observational studies show that estrogen deficiency, resulting from premenopausal or postmenopausal oophorectomy, is associated with higher risks of coronary artery disease, stroke, hip fracture, Parkinsonism, dementia, cognitive impairment, depression, and anxiety. These studies suggest that bilateral oophorectomy may do more harm than good. In women not at high risk for development of ovarian or breast cancer, removing the ovaries at the time of hysterectomy should be approached with caution.

The Patients Voice on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/The Patients Voice

Chemosensitivity testing with ChemoFx and overall survival in primary ovarian cancer.

Dr Rob's Blog: What if the Rest of Life Was LIke Healthcare? Musings of a Distractible Mind

Note: satire

text video: It's All Over Folks...The End of Publishing As We Know It

eg. books, social media Entertaining video prepared by the UK branch of Dorling Kindersley Books. Originally meant solely for a DK sales conference, the video was such a hit internally that it is now being shared externally. ...

abstract: Should access to fertility treatment be determined by female body mass index? Human Reproduction

"Studies have shown that the direct costs per live birth are no greater for overweight and obese women..... Restricting fertility treatment on the grounds of BMI would cause stigmatization and lead to inequity, feelings of injustice and social tension as affluent women manage to bypass these draconian restrictions."

full free access: Human Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells -- Bapat, 10.1530/REP-09-0389 -- Reproduction

In research - selected notes:

Stem cells exist in ovarian tumors.

DNA Copy Numbers Profiles in Affinity-Purified Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma — Clinical Cancer Research

Editorial: Diet and Survival after Ovarian Cancer: Where Are We and What's Next?

  Note: pay-per-view

Journal of the American Dietetic Association
Volume 110, Issue 3, March 2010, Pages 366-368

---

Research

Diet and Survival after Ovarian Cancer: Where Are We and What's Next?

Cynthia A. Thomson PhD, RD, CSO and David S. Alberts MD

Article Outline

The Problem

Diet and Survival

Weight Gain a Subsequent Risk

Time to Fill the Research Gaps

Acknowledgements

References

Vitae

JAMA -- Abstract: Availability and Integration of Palliative Care at US Cancer Centers, March 17, 2010