Ovarian cancer has one of the lowest survival rates of any cancer in Australia and, unlike many other cancers, survival has only slightly improved in recent decades. This interdisciplinary research team includes experts in biology and translational research, epidemiology and mathematical modelling and is supported by key stakeholders, including community partners and ovarian cancer survivor advocates.
Together, the team’s mission is to reduce the impact of ovarian cancer with research that aims to change clinical practice to prevent ovarian cancer and improve survival outcomes for patients. This work is made possible by funding from the Fussell Family Foundation, the US Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, Ovarian Cancer Research Program and Tour de Cure.
Prevention and precancer interception research
Our research utilises epidemiological studies to evaluate risk factors for ovarian and also endometrial cancers in order to inform better strategies for their prevention. Current studies are focused on:
Understanding racial and ethnic differences in ovarian cancer risk factors using international ovarian cancer consortia datasets [Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium (OCAC), Ovarian Cancer Cohort Consortium (OC3)].
Health effects of benign gynaecological surgery (including tubal ligation).
Anti-inflammatory diet and ovarian cancer risk considering the timing of exposure in relation to ovarian cancer diagnosis.
Optimising survival for patients with gynaecological cancers
Our objective is to improve the health of women diagnosed with gynaecological cancers by studying modifiable factors that may influence survival following a cancer diagnosis. Current projects focus on:
The impact of demographic factors (country of birth, socioeconomic status and regionality) on ovarian and endometrial cancer survival using NSW Health data from the Enduring Cancer Data Linkage (CanDLe), an initiative of the Cancer Institute NSW.
How the use of pre-diagnosis and post-diagnosis aspirin and non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use may influence survival among ovarian cancer patients in the context of patient characteristics and tumour immune marker profiles. This project uses the exceptional resources in the Ovarian Cancer Cohort Consortium (OC3).
Use of other commonly used medications, such as blood pressure medications, in relation to ovarian cancer survival.
Modelling the future of ovarian cancer
The team has developed a purpose-built predictive modelling platform. This tool is being used to assess the potential impact of different interventions for ovarian cancer with a focus on evaluating opportunistic salpingectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes during a pelvic procedure) for the prevention of the most common ovarian cancer (serous tubo-ovarian cancer) in the general population.
Identifying risk-appropriate germline and tumour testing referral pathways
Using implementation science approaches, the team is conducting a process mapping investigation to understand the current referral processes in Australia for genetic (germline) testing and counselling for women with ovarian cancer and their families and somatic tumour testing for genes in the homologous recombination repair pathway which determine eligibility to receive PARP (poly ADP-ribose polymerase) inhibitor treatments. A focus of this work is to identify variation that may exist between clinical settings based on regionality or private health insurance status.
