Epithelial ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death in women with gynecologic cancer. Although it represents only one-fourth of all new cases of gynecologic cancer, it causes over one-half of all deaths due to these diseases. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) is an institution with extensive clinical and laboratory research facilities. The Gynecology Service of the Department of Surgery in collaboration with the Breast/Gynecology Service of the Division of Solid Tumor Oncology of the Department of Neurology, the Department of Pathology, the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the Immunology Program of the Sloan- Kettering Institute with their principal interest being directed towards ovarian cancer. Since approximately 140 new cases (both untreated and previously treated) of ovarian cancer are seen annually, an adequate patient population exists. For these reasons, a program project to develop new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer has been developed.
The aim of this program project is 1) to conduct phase I and II clinical trials of innovative chemotherapy regimens 2) to collect a bank of ovarian cancer tissues and body fluids, 3) to evaluate the symptomatology of cancer pain and to assess quality of life as related to therapy, 4) to perform pharmacokinetic studies of new monoclonal antibodies against ovarian cancer antigens in animal models and humans with the aim of being able to target ovarian cancers for diagnostic imaging and radioisotope therapy, and 5) to study in a systematic fashion the immunology and immunochemistry of ovarian cancer in order to characterize malignant and normal ovarian and mesothelial tissues and develop a better group of monoclonal antibodies for clinical use. Based on initial collaboration, the working structure of this program project has been developed. Progress to date warrants funding of a program project to expand this research and carry it forward.
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