National Health and Medical Research Council

Ovarian cancer is a significant cause of illness and death in Australia. In 2005, 1,205 new cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed, and there were 888 deaths due to it, making it the sixth most common cause of cancer death among Australian women. The five-year relative survival rate after diagnosis of ovarian cancer is only 39.8%. [1]

NHMRC funding for ovarian cancer research

In the period 2004-09, NHMRC contributed over $31.4 million to Australian research into ovarian cancer.

Some NHMRC-funded research projects into ovarian cancer

The influence of metabolic factors and hormones in uterine and ovarian cancer

Chief Investigator Dr Christina M Nagle, Queensland Institute of Medical Research

Metabolic and hormonal factors probably play a role in a woman's chance of developing and surviving gynecological cancer, but the exact mechanisms are unclear. This project will use questionnaire information, blood and tumour samples of over 5,000 Australian women to examine the mechanisms leading to cancer development and survival among women with uterine and ovarian cancer, the two commonest female reproductive cancers.

Training Fellowships (Australia) - Public Health (Australia) Fellowship

The role of support services, diet and exercise in alleviating distress in women with ovarian cancer and their partners

Chief Investigator Dr Vanessa  Beesley, Queensland Institute of Medical Research

A significant proportion of ovarian cancer patients and their partners experience elevated levels of distress. Determining if particular services, diet or exercise are effective in alleviating this distress will help to inform service provision and clinical practice. This research approaches this issue by firstly evaluating use of psychosocial services, diet and exercise in relation to quality of life, and secondly by piloting a lifestyle intervention for patients and partners with distress. 

Training Fellowships (Australia) - Public Health (Australia) Fellowship

Developing evidence for prevention and control of gynaecologic, oesophageal and skin cancer in Australia

Chief Investigator Professor Adele C Green, Queensland Institute of Medical Research

Our program addresses cancers of the ovary, uterus, oesophagus and skin (both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers). The first three cancers together affect almost 4,000 people and cause more than 2,000 deaths every year while skin cancer affects almost 400,000 Australians each year. Our aims are, first, to understand better how these cancers are caused so that we can try to prevent them in the future; second, to enhance diagnosis of these cancers; and third, to improve the survival and quality of life for people who are diagnosed with these cancers in Australia.

Program Grant – New Program Grant

Does Palliative Chemotherapy Improve Symptoms in Women with Recurrent Ovarian Cancer?

Chief Investigator Professor Michael L Friedlander, University of Sydney

This is a study in women who have relapsed ovarian cancer, and who are about to start further chemotherapy. Subjects will answer questions about their quality of life in order to measure any improvement in their symptoms and well being in response to palliative treatment. The study will relate subjects own reporting of improvement with their actual clinical response. The aim of this study is to develop an optimal palliative chemotherapy regime for use in future clinical trials.

NHMRC Project Grant

Kallikrein proteases and ovarian cancer

Chief Investigator Professor Judith A Clements, Queensland University of Technology

Only 30% of ovarian cancer patients with advanced disease survive for 5 years. This is because the cancer quickly spreads into the abdominal cavity and often becomes resistant to chemotherapy. We aim to use a new 3D culture system, mouse models and novel inhibitors to study the roles of 4 kallikrein enzymes in these events. The outcomes from this study will lead to a better understanding of the role of kallikreins in ovarian cancer and may lead to new treatment approaches.

NHMRC Project Grant

Analysis of ovarian cancer genes

Chief Investigator Dr Kylie L Gorringe, University of Melbourne

In Australia in 2001, there were around 1300 new cases of ovarian cancer. Survival of ovarian cancer is very poor and current treatments inadequate. To develop more effective treatments we need to understand the molecular events that cause ovarian cancer. Some genes have multiple copies in ovarian cancer cells and these may be good targets for therapy. We aim to find these genes and determine which ones have a functional effect in the tumour.

NHMRC Project Grant - Priming Grant (New Investigator)

Sources

1. AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) & AACR (Australasian Association of Cancer Registries) 2008. Cancer in Australia: an overview, 2008. Cancer series no. 46. Cat. no. CAN 42. Canberra: AIHW.