A Robust Clinico-Molecular Platform to Support the Care of Ovarian Cancer Patients
| Period from: | 2008-10-01 to 2009-09-30 |
| Principal Investigators: | Drs. Patricia Tonin and Diane Provencher |
| Co-Investigators: | Anne-Marie Mes-Masson; Walter Gotlieb; Anita Koushik |
| Institution: | McGill University |
| Department: | Human Genetics |
| Partner: | Canadian Partnership Against Cancer Corporation |
| Program: | Biomarker Pilot Research Project |
| Abstract: |
Epithelial ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynecological malignancies in the Western world with survival rates of advanced disease of less than 40%. Presenting with vague symptoms, the disease is diagnosed at an advanced stage when the cancer has already spread to secondary sites. The standard treatment for these patients is surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy.
As resistance to treatment often occurs in less than two years, an alternative but more aggressive treatment, such as intra-peritoneal chemotherapy, has been shown to be more effective, leading to increases in the the survival rate compared to standard treatments. However such treatments are very toxic and, accordingly, should not be administrated routinely to patients, especially to those who are less risk to relapse.
Up to now, there are no reliable clinical factors or markers that would properly stratify patients who would be best suited for aggressive first line chemotherapy. Over the past 15 years our Montreal-based research group in ovarian cancer has conducted research on the molecular and genetic attributes of sporadic and familial (hereditary) ovarian cancer. We have applied a number of complementary strategies, making use of both in vivo and in vitro models of disease propagation, to elucidate the biological features of ovarian cancer.
One strategy in particular, based on large-scale transcriptome analyses that was previously funded from a Genome Quebec/Canada endeavour, has allowed us to identify expression patterns associated with specific disease states. Another strategy supported by CIHR-funded endeavours, based on gene transfer methods and suppression of tumourigenecity, has facilitated the identification of transcriptome patterns associated with tumourigenic potential. We have started to integrate these strategies to better define candidates and as a result generated a defined list of genes whose expression profiles are top candidates for association with disease progression and response to therapy.
Using established techniques, an extensive bank of tumour tissues, and linked clinical correlates, we propose to (1) identify those genes which are associated with disease outcome; and (2) establish molecular genetic methods to best stratify candidates associated with disease outcomes. These strategies are aimed at stratifying patients that would likely benefit from aggressive therapy.
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| Funding Information: | |
| 2008-2009 | $49,000 |
| 2009-2010 | $49,000 |
| TOTAL | $98,000 |
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