Moffitt Cancer Center Recognizes Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

September 14, 2009

Tampa, FL – September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancers in the United States. Unfortunately, many times there are few early warning signs. Moffitt Cancer Center offers several resources and clinical trials available to patients suffering from the disease or who think they might have the disease.

The Center for Women’s Oncology:

Designed to integrate clinical, research and teaching activities that focus on breast and gynecologic cancers in particular, the center provides:

* Outpatient clinic visits with gynecologic oncologists, breast surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, psychologists and other professionals for patients with breast or gynecologic cancers

* Imaging services, including mammography, ultrasound and MRI

* Genetics counseling and testing

* Diagnostic procedures, including breast biopsies and colposcopy

* Cancer screening, prevention and early detection services

* Survivorship programs

* Complementary/integrative medicine programs including acupuncture, yoga and massage

The center integrates interdisciplinary expertise with services that are customer friendly and efficient. Every physician affiliated with the center is fellowship trained, bringing advanced expertise to women’s cancer care. Experts in gynecologic cancers include:

*Johnathan M. Lancaster, M.D., Ph.D., director of The Center for Women’s Oncology

*Sachin M. Apte, M.D., M.S., assistant member of Gynecologic Oncology

*William S. Roberts, M.D., senior member of Gynecologic Oncology

*Robert M. Wenham, M.D., M.S., FACOG, assistant member of Gynecologic Oncology

In addition, the center exemplifies the concept of personalized medicine, an approach that identifies genetic and biological markers that detect cancer, predict risk or point to specific interventions for a particular patient by finding genetic “signatures” that could indicate best response to treatment.

Clinical Trials:

Overview of Moffitt’s Clinical Trials for Women with Ovarian Cancer

Informed decisions about treatment should include consideration of the standard of care, as well as current clinical trials, in which new agents that have shown promise in earlier studies are being investigated. Early knowledge of clinical trials can reduce risk for a missed opportunity to be screened for participation in an appropriate treatment study. To increase awareness about the gynecologic oncology clinical trials that are available to women with ovarian cancer, we are providing the following information: study title, identification number, a brief description of its purpose, and a few of the major eligibility criteria. (Note: If you have questions about studies 1-5, call Sierra Theodore, RN, CCRC, (813) 745-7272. If you have questions about studies 6-8, call Luz Diez, RN, BSN, (813) 745-4625.)

Phase II using BAY 43-9006 (Sorafenib) and Paclitaxel/Carboplatin in women with recurrent platinum sensitive epithelial, ovarian, peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer. (MCC# 14889)

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a new drug, Sorafenib, in combination with Carboplatin and Paclitaxel, both of which have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and are standard treatments for women with ovarian, fallopian tube or peritoneal cancer.