Can Too Foundation is happy to announce a new research grant to Dr Laura Moffitt at Hudson Institute.
Dr Moffitt’s two-year research project will focus on understanding the way that leader cells work to ultimately develop therapies that slow ovarian cancer progression and improve the effectiveness of existing treatments.
Ovarian cancer is the deadliest cancer of the female reproductive system, with currently less than a 30% survival rate when the cancer is diagnosed in its advanced stages.
“This funding will be invaluable in advancing my research - to better understand how ovarian cancer spreads and how we can prevent it,” Dr Moffitt said.
“The goal is to find new treatment strategies that give patients better options and improve survival rates for this devastating disease.”
Our CEO, Lisa Hresc has said “We are thrilled to support the funding of Dr Laura Moffitt’s research. We see real potential and value in it, to transform our understanding of ovarian cancer. Advancing this knowledge could be a crucial step towards developing more effective treatments. Investing in innovative researchers and projects like this are ultimately all about making a real difference in people’s lives – to give people healthier, happier and longer lives. I’m also so grateful to our CanToo community for supporting us to make projects like this happen.”
Dr Laura Moffitt, pictured above.
What is ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancers are malignant tumours, or the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, in one or both ovaries. Ovaries are the female reproductive organs that produce eggs and make the hormones oestrogen and progesterone.
There are three different types:
1. Epithelial tumours are the most common, accounting for 90% of cases, and start on the surface of the ovaries.
2. Stromal tumours start from the cells that surround the eggs within the ovaries. The majority are Granulosa cell tumours (GCT), which account for approximately 5% of ovarian cancers and can develop at any age, even in children.
3. Germ cell tumours. These are the rarest tumours, accounting for about 2% of ovarian cancers. They develop from the cells that become the eggs in the ovaries.
Understanding ovarian cancer
Early
• In stage 1 the cancer is confined to one or both ovaries.
• In stage 2 the cancer has spread to other organs in the pelvis.
Advanced
• In stage 3 the cancer has spread beyond the pelvis to the lining of the abdomen or nearby lymph nodes.
• In stage 4 the cancer has spread to other organs.
About 70% of cases are diagnosed in the advanced stage.
Survival
The five-year survival rate is 45.7% but can be as low as 10% in women with fast-growing tumours.
Around 4,000 women are living with ovarian cancer in Australia and about 1,000 women die from it every year.
