2005

Overcoming Ovarian Cancer

Queen of Hearts is committed to supporting a $100,000 ovarian cancer research project by Dr. Wendy Brewster who is conducting pioneering research in epidemiology which may lead to a better understanding of risk factors and prevention of the disease.

Her research work focuses on the identification of women who are susceptible to ovarian cancer by virtue of having particular genetic, environmental or reproductive characteristics and the development of targeted screening methods. Dr. Brewster is investigating the genes involved in reproduction that determine if a woman develops ovarian cancer and the aggressiveness of the malignancy. She directs screening of women at high risk for ovarian cancer in Orange and San Diego counties as a part of a national screening study and plans to develop a regional ovarian cancer screening program.

Ovarian Cancer is called the disease that "whispers." With no reliable test to detect the disease in its early stages, it can spread silently and quickly before causing symptoms that often mimic other conditions.

As a result, this most lethal of gynecological cancers is often discovered in its advanced stages.

But there is hope – and it often begins when a women decides to select a gynecological oncologist for her treatment. These sub-specialists are experts in the care of women with cancer of the female reproductive track – the ovaries, uterus, cervix vulva and vagina. Studies confirm that women whose initial surgeries are performed by gynecologic oncologists have a better survival rate than others.

But the diagnosis of ovarian cancer can be a challenge. "Because these ovaries are small organs located deep within the pelvis, they’re difficult to see, even with ultrasound, CT or MRI scans," says Dr. Wendy Brewster, a gynecologic oncologist at UCI Medical Center. “In certain cases, ovarian cancer spreads as tiny nodules, which makes it almost impossible to visualize.”

The key to successful treatment is a process called "staging." It begins with exploratory surgery to determine the full extent of the disease. During the operation, the surgeon confirms the presence of cancer, the location of the primary tumor and the organs to which it has spread. The goal: to remove as much of the tumor as possible during the procedure called: debulking.” The ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes and a portion of the fatty tissue called the omentum may also be removed, as well as lymph nodes and nearby organs affected by the disease. Gynecologic oncologists have the expertise to perform the correct procedures during a single surgery and to recommend the appropriate type of chemotherapy, if needed.

A complex disease. "There are more than 30 types and subtypes of ovarian cancer, each with its own characteristics," says Dr. Brewster. "Certain subtypes don’t require the removal of all the reproductive organs. Thus in many cases, a woman may retain her fertility. It is crucial that the surgeon is knowledgeable about ovarian cancer subtypes.”

The selection, timing and frequency of chemotherapeutic drugs also depend upon the subtype and stage of ovarian cancer. Stage I ovarian cancer is confined to both ovaries. "only one-quarter of all cases are found at this stage,” says Brewster. In stage II cancer, the cancer has spread to the pelvic organs, stage III cancer has spread to the abdominal organs such as the bowel, and stage IV has spread outside the abdomen to distant sites in the body.

As the only Orange County hospital given a "comprehensive" designation by the National Cancer Institute, UCI’s Chao Family Cancer Center has access to many treatments not available elsewhere. More than a dozen clinical trials involving ovarian cancer are currently underway.

Brewster stresses that early detection is the key to fighting this disease. "Until now, efforts to detect ovarian cancer in its early stages have been dismal," says Brewster. "But current studies of biologic markers (indicators of disease identified through testing) and combined screening methods are promising.”

UCI Medical Center offers an ovarian cancer screening program for high-risk women. It entails monitoring participants with periodic blood tests and ultrasound exams. For more information, call (714) 456.6570

2003 - 2004

Queen of Hearts Foundation announced its partnership with the University of California at Irvine Medical Center - Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2004. The funds raised by the Queen of Hearts will be allocated to ovarian cancer research projects at UCI. The foundation supported its first project conducted by Dr. Robert Burger.

Dr. Burger’s research focused on studying the ECA1 Protein, thought to be a validation for early detection of ovarian cancer. "Ovarian Cancer is the 4th most frequent cause of cancer death among women in the United States," says Dr. Burger. “Although a cure can generally be achieved when the disease is diagnosed at an early stage, the vast majority of patients go undiagnosed until the late stages of cancer. It is extremely important to develop a test for early detection of ovarian cancer for prevention and proper diagnosis.”

Dr. Burger reported, “We have recently shown that the ECA1 gene may accelerate cancer progression by conferring a growth advantage to human cancer cells. In addition we have identified human ovarian cancer cell lines, which show increased expression of ECA1 and have designed molecules to inhibit the production of ECA1. We are currently optimizing the ECA1 protein purification conditions in order to develop a serum test for detection of ovarian cancer.”

UCI Medical Center - Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of a few designated comprehensive cancer centers in California, where research discoveries are translated into medical advances for patients.

The Queen of Hearts Foundation supported this research program by donating $100,000.

2001-2002

For two consecutive years (2001, 2002), the Queen of Hearts Foundation donated their proceeds to a 2-year collaborative research project with Northwestern University in Chicago and Illinois, MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

The research consisted of the study of a family of lysophospholipids, which are believed to be helpful in early detection of Ovarian Cancer and for clinical use. The cost of this study was $400,000 and reported to be on schedule.

Link to UCI