Ovarian Cancer

Research

Mayo Clinic conducts extensive research on ovarian cancer at all three campuses. As part of the national Gynecologic Oncology Group, Mayo Clinic is dedicated to research designed to improve treatment for gynecologic cancers. The Ovarian Cancer Research Group, a multidisciplinary group of clinicians and scientists working together within the Women's Cancer Program, develop new and better ways to diagnose and treat ovarian cancer.

Mayo Clinic research has contributed to advances in surgery for ovarian cancer, including surgical debulking (or cytoreduction) of tumors. In addition, research at Mayo Clinic helped create the current standard chemotherapy regimen, which combines the use of paclitaxel and carboplatin.

Current research projects include:

• Identification of differences in the genes expressed in tumors of women who have good responses to chemotherapy compared to women whose ovarian cancer progresses rapidly despite chemotherapy
• The proteomics initiative, which seeks to find unique proteins in the blood that may serve as early markers of cancer
• The use of attenuated measles virus as therapy for ovarian cancer
• A study of the biology of epithelial ovarian cancer cell growth
• Gene therapy
• Immunotherapy

Women's Cancer Program

The Women's Cancer Program at Mayo Clinic conducts cutting-edge, innovative research to improve treatment management options for women with breast and gynecologic cancers. This multidisciplinary program brings together researchers and clinicians to further the current understanding of women's cancers, provide compassionate care, and educate patients and their families about women's cancers. Researchers in gynecologic surgery, medical and radiation oncology, medical genetics, pathology and other specialties work together to give women with cancer the widest possible range of treatment options. As part of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, the Women's Cancer Program is poised to offer innovative new therapies available through clinical trials. The Women's Cancer Program also provides psychosocial support classes, a resource center, and educational programs for patients and their families.

Publications

Kalli KR, Chen BK, Bale LK, Gernand E, Overgaard MT, Oxvig C, Cliby WA, Conover CA. Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) expression and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 protease activity in normal and malignant ovarian surface epithelial cells. Int J Cancer 2004 July 10; 110(5):633-40. [Abstract]

Nouriani M, Bahador A, Berek JS, Cheng JP, Chi DS, Cliby WA, Del Priore G, Dodson MK, Duggan BD, Gershenson DM, Lentz SE, Penson RT, Robinson WR, Rodriguez M, Roman LD, Yu MC, Zempolich K, Dubeau L. Detection of residual subclinical ovarian carcinoma after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy. Clin Cancer Res. 2004 April 15;10(8):2681-6. [Abstract]

Chien J, Staub J, Hu SI, Erickson-Johnson, MR, Couch FJ, Smith DI, Crowl RM, Kaufmann, SH, Shridhar V. A candidate tumor suppressor HtrA1 is downregulated in ovarian cancer. Oncogene 2004 Feb 26; 23(8):1636-1644. [Abstract]

Dowdy SC, Constantinou CL, Hartmann LC, Keeney GL, Suman VJ, Hillman DW, Podratz KC. Long-term follow-up of women with ovarian cancer after positive second-look laparotomy. Gynecol Oncol. 2003 Dec; 91(3):563-8. [Abstract]

Peethambaram PP, Cliby WA, Lubiniecki G, Clayton AC, Roche PC, Iturria SJ, Hartmann LC, Hellstrom I, Strome SE. Her-2/neu expression in ovarian cancer: pre- and postsexposure to platinum chemotherapy. Gynecol Oncol. 2003 Apr;89(1):99-104. [Abstract]