Blog
Posts Tagged ‘Cancer Early Detection Research’
Canary’s new: High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Initiative. HGSOC is the most common and lethal form of ovarian cancer.
February 4, 2020
Ovarian cancer remains the most lethal gynecologic malignancy in the United States. In 2018, over 22,000 new cases were diagnosed and 14,000 women lost their lives to the disease.
Ovarian cancer is made up of distinct subtypes. High grade serous ovarian carcinoma is 70% of cases, and is the most lethal subtype accounting for over 60% of ovarian cancer deaths.
People who have inherited mutations in BRCA genes are at higher risk for certain types of cancer, including HGSOC. In looking very carefully at the fallopian tubes removed from BRCA mutation carriers, the discovery was made that the fallopian tube was a site of origin for HGSOC – not the ovary itself, but the fallopian tube. This understanding over the past 15 years represents a paradigm shift in the origin of the HGSOC and opportunity for us to better understand how the cancer develops and design better strategies for early detection and prevention.
80% of HGSOC are diagnosed at a late stage!
We want to eliminate deaths from HGSOC by early detection and prevention.
There are currently no effective methods for early detection for ovarian cancer. Substantial progress has been made in identifying the putative precursor lesions for ovarian cancers.
Our focus is to define the role of the fallopian tube microenvironment in the development of high grade serous ovarian cancer, with the ultimate objective to find targets for prevention and markers of early disease onset for early detection. We are tackling the problem from multiple directions to ensure the greatest probability of success.
It is unclear which precursor lesions are likely to progress and/or be associated with invasive disease. A critical knowledge gap is how the various constituents of the fallopian tube microenvironment impact tumor development or progression.
Achieving our goals requires a multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary effort. The team we assembled is made up of gynecologic oncologists, molecular biologists, epidemiologists, pathologists and bioinformaticians. The team is world class and has the requisite expertise to capitalize on complementary molecular profiling. Our research plan leverages powerful, broad-based discovery approaches to tackle this difficult challenge of early detection.
Dr. Heidi Aumen explains more:
Rally Your Team for the Canary Challenge!
March 8, 2012
Dr. Fred Chin, Head of Cyclotron Radiochemistry at Stanford University Medical Center & Canary Challenge Rider, extends his passion for early cancer detection research beyond the lab, fundraising and promoting awareness through his participation in the Canary Challenge. He shares his motivation for creating and leading “Team MIPS” (Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford), leveraging the opportunity to bond and build relationships with other researchers and physicians on the team. Watch this short video to learn more about Fred’s experience, goals, and words of wisdom for new riders.
httpv://youtu.be/um5vGkRPAgg
Funds raised in 2012 Canary Challenge will be donated to the Stanford Cancer Institute (SCI) to benefit cancer research and innovative supportive care programs. Cancer strikes about one in three women and one in two men in the United States. Canary Foundation, the producer of the event, is committed to identifying early stage cancers to save lives.
To register for the Canary Challenge, visit: www.CanaryChallenge.com
