Libby's HOPE (Helping Ovarian Cancer Survivors Persevere Through Education)(TM)

FDA Issues a Warning Letter to LabCorp Regarding The Illegal Marketing of The OvaSure™ Test

Paul Cacciatore — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:04:34 +0000

On September 29, 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of In Vitro Diagnostic Device Evaluation and Safety (OIVD), Center for Devices and Radiological Health, issued a warning letter (FDA Warning Letter) to the Chief Executive Officer of the Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp) regarding the illegal marketing of the OvaSure™ ovarian cancer [...]

MK-0457 Alone and in Combination With Docetaxel Inhibits Ovarian Cancer Growth In Vivo

Paul Cacciatore — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 10:33:57 +0000

…[T]he [M.D. Anderson Cancer Center & Baylor College of Medicine] researchers concluded that [Aurora kinase] AK inhibition [produced by MK-0457] significantly reduces ovarian cancer tumor burden and cell proliferation, and increases tumor cell apoptosis in preclinical ovarian cancer mouse models. The researchers noted that the role of Aurora kinase inhibition in ovarian cancer merits further [...]

What Do You Stand For? Standup2Cancer Tonight At 8:00 P.M. E.T./P.T., 7:00 P.M. C.T.

Paul Cacciatore — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:32:42 +0000

This year, approximately 565,650 Americans are expected to die of cancer — that’s more than 1,500 people a day. … Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. … In an unprecedented television event, NBC, ABC, and CBS will simultaneously devote 1 hour of commercial-free prime time to [...]

Hollywood Celebs Raise Awareness Regarding Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer

Paul Cacciatore — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:28:21 +0000

Christina Applegate - Samantha Who? Recently diagnosed in July 2008 with breast cancer, Christina Applegate appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America program in August. The talented, Emmy award winning actress is currently the star of the ABC sitcom “Samantha Who?” Applegate came into the Hollywood limelight when she appeared in popular Fox sitcom “Married [...]

NBOCC Run/Walk for Her — September 21, 2008

Paul Cacciatore — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:19:21 +0000

On Sunday, September 21, 2008, the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NBOCC) will conduct its annual 5K Run/3K Walk for Her. This walk is dedicated to those who have lost the battle to breast or ovarian cancer, and celebrates those who continue to fight. The event will start at 8:00 A.M. EDT and [...]

Presidential Proclamation Begins National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, September 2008

Paul Cacciatore — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:00:58 +0000

“During National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we remember those whose lives have been affected by this deadly disease, and we underscore our commitment to battling ovarian cancer for the sake of women around the world. …” “For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary August 26, 2008 National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, 2008 A Proclamation by the President of the [...]

Lost In Translation? FDA Believes That LabCorp’s Ovarian Cancer Early Detection Test (OvaSure) Lacks Adequate Clinical Validation

Paul Cacciatore — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 21:39:30 +0000

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a letter to the Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp) on August 7, 2008, stating that it believes the Yale ovarian cancer early detection test (marketed by LabCorp under the name OvaSure™) ” … has not received adequate clinical validation, and may harm the public health.” In that [...]

Imatinib & Docetaxel Produce Modest Response Against Recurrent Platinum Resistant/Refractory Ovarian Cancer

Paul Cacciatore — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:11:48 +0000

A combination of imatinib mesylate (Gleevec®) and docetaxel (Taxotere®) produced only a modest response in patients with recurrent, platinum-resistant or refractory ovarian cancer, according to the results of a Phase II clinical trial conducted by the Hoosier Oncology Group at Indiana University Cancer Center. Background A combination of imatinib mesylate (Gleevec®) and docetaxel (Taxotere®) produced only a [...]

Patty Franchi Flaherty Loses Battle to Ovarian Cancer, But Deserves a Long Standing Ovation

Paul Cacciatore — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:34:58 +0000

It is with deep regret that I must inform you that, Patty Franchi Flaherty, founder of the nonprofit organization Ovations for the Cure of Ovarian Cancer, peacefully succumbed to her nine-year battle with the disease on August 18, 2008, surrounded by friends and family. She was 53 years old. Patty was a legendary ovarian cancer [...]

Working Smarter, Not Harder: Use of Anti-Estrogen Therapy to Battle Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

Paul Cacciatore — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:28:31 +0000

The Gynecologic Oncology department of the University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center took a page out of the breast cancer treatment “playbook,” and conducted a single institution Phase II clinical trial using letrozole (Femara®) to treat recurrent, platinum and taxane resistant, high-grade cancer of the ovary and peritoneum. …The trial investigators concluded that 26% [...]

Winners Walk of Hope — Ovarian Cancer Canada Takes Steps to Eradicate The Disease That Whispers

Paul Cacciatore — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 02:02:15 +0000

“On Sunday, September 7th, 14 Canadian cities will join in the only national fundraising event dedicated to overcoming ovarian cancer - the Winners Walk of Hope. … The annual walk has raised more than $3-million for ovarian cancer support and awareness programs across the country, including resources for newly diagnosed women; awareness campaigns targeted at [...]

Cancer Survivors With Low Volume Metastases May Benefit From Radiotherapy

Paul Cacciatore — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:52:51 +0000

“Precisely targeted radiation therapy can eradicate all evidence of disease in selected patients with cancer that has spread to only a few sites, suggests the first published report from an ongoing clinical trial. … Six of the 29 [21%] initial patients had lasting tumor control, with no detectable evidence of disease 15 months after treatment. [...]

A Celebration of Libby’s Life

Paul Cacciatore — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 06:56:03 +0000

Elizabeth Kay Remick passed away peacefully at 11:33 A.M. on Monday, July 28, at home with family by her side. Our family was blessed with Libby’s presence for 26 years. She battled ovarian cancer for 18 months with courage and an indomitable spirit. A celebration of Libby’s life will be held on August 17th [...]

Combination Targeted Therapy With Sorafenib & Bevacizumab Shows Antitumor Activity

Paul Cacciatore — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:36:13 +0000

The results from a recent Phase I solid tumor clinical trial indicate that combination targeted therapy with sorafenib and bevacizumab produces anti-tumor activity (and enhanced toxicity) with respect to 43% of the ovarian cancer patients enrolled in that trial. Sorafenib (Nexavar®) inhibits the Raf kinase and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor. Bevacizumab (Avastin®) is [...]

The Emerging Field of Oncofertility

Paul Cacciatore — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:35:49 +0000

“Welcome to the burgeoning world of oncofertility. As cancer survival rates climb and patients focus on quality-of-life issues, especially fertility, Dauer and others like her are forcing two very different medical specialties-oncology and assisted reproduction-to come together. ‘The narrative of cancer is no longer that it’s a death sentence; it’s a bump in your [...]

Libby's H*O*P*E* (*Helping *Ovarian Cancer Survivors *Persevere Through *Education)(TM)