Ovarian cancer is a silent killer. It is often asymptomatic and goes undetected until the advanced stages, when the cancer is widespread. Only a handful of new ovarian cancer treatment options have emerged in the past 30 years and these typically become ineffective as ovarian cancer develops resistance to chemotherapy. Our ovarian cancer scientists tackle the disease from different angles to make a difference to women’s lives.
NEW OVARIAN CANCER TREATMENT OPTIONS
Professor Paul Hertzog, Research Group Head
In 2004, Professor Paul Hertzog’s laboratory discovered interferon epsilon in the female reproductive tract. An interferon is a type of protein called a cytokine, which regulates the immune system. The ovarian cancer scientists showed that interferon epsilon can activate immune cells to provide a protective inflammatory response to ovarian cancer in preclinical models.
This new treatment could be groundbreaking for women in the late stages of ovarian cancer who have developed chemotherapy resistance.” Professor Paul Hertzog, ovarian cancer scientist.
Our ovarian cancer projects
Developing a new treatment for metastatic ovarian cancer
Progressing treatment to clinical trials
Understanding the role of interferon epsilon in other conditions like endometriosis
EARLY DETECTION FOR OVARIAN CANCER
Dr Maree Bilandzic, Senior Postdoctoral Scientist
Around 4000 women live with ovarian cancer in Australia, with less than half surviving longer than five years after diagnosis.
The disease has few early symptoms, and even with treatment, most patients will relapse within a short space of time.
Headed by Dr Andrew Stephens, the Ovarian Cancer Biomarkers group is actively developing and trialling new cancer therapies and detection tests with the support of the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF), to help create a future free from the spectre of this disease.
Our ovarian cancer projects
Development and preclinical testing of a new cancer drug
Creation of early detection tests
Precision medicine approaches to rapidly personalise therapy
The fact is that no early detection test for ovarian cancer exists – it’s a simple necessity we owe women.” Dr Maree Bilandzic, ovarian cancer scientist.
RARE OVARIAN CANCER
Approximately five per cent of ovarian cancer sufferers have a subset of the disease known as granulosa cell tumours (GCTs), which can develop at any age, even in children. The condition has a high rate of late recurrence, meaning even if surgery is effective, women live for years in constant fear that their cancer might return.
Dr Simon Chu, Research Group Head
To know that we can contribute to bringing hope to these women makes my line of work very rewarding. Dr Simon Chu, ovarian cancer scientist.
Dr Simon Chu’s Hormone Cancer Therapeutics group is striving to bring hope for this somewhat neglected disease – through better diagnosis, early detection and more targeted treatment. A $10,000 donation from Rare Ovarian Cancer Incorporated enabled the group to kickstart a world-first study into juvenile GCTs.
Our ovarian cancer projects
Establishing a cost-effective, highly specific diagnostic test
Personalised treatments based on GCT molecular processes
Identifying the genetic mutations causing the disease
