INTERCEPTING OVARIAN CANCER

Recent studies show that, very often, ovarian cancer originates as pre-cancerous lesions in the fallopian tubes—and that women who undergo preventive fallopian tube removal generally do not develop ovarian cancer. This project will develop a national strategy for ensuring access to this preventive procedure for women. It will also create new knowledge and spur development of more effective methods for diagnosing lesions.

TARGETING MINIMAL RESIDUAL DISEASE IN OVARIAN CANCER

Too often, a small number of ovarian cancer cells prove resistant to initial chemotherapy, and this clinically undetectable “minimal residual disease” fuels the cancer’s recurrence and spread. This project aims to identify and exploit the vulnerabilities of these remaining cancer cells, and then test therapies that strike those weak points. The researchers’ ultimate goal is creating frontline treatment strategies that leave no remaining ovarian cancer cells.