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Ovarian Cancer >
Funded Research
CDC Funded Ovarian Cancer Research
The public health needs identified during the
November 2000 workshop, Identifying Public
Health Opportunities to Reduce the Burden of Ovarian Cancer, have been used to establish CDC funding priorities for ovarian
cancer. The following activities have received CDC support.
- Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research at the University of Texas
in Houston
The Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research at the University of Texas
in Houston (a CDC-funded Prevention Research Center) was funded to conduct a
2-year study related to early detection of ovarian cancer. This project will
interview samples of women identified through various sources to explore factors
associated with medical care seeking decisions related to symptoms potentially
suspicious for ovarian cancer. Study questionnaires will focus on common,
non-specific symptoms such as abdominal bloating or discomfort, unexplained weight
gain, chronic abdominal or pelvic pain or pressure, and increased abdominal girth.
The University of Texas in Houston was also funded to conduct a 2-year study on
several hundred ovarian cancer cases diagnosed over a 2- to 3-year period. The
primary objective of this case series study is to identify factors that distinguish
women diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 from those diagnosed at stages 3 and 4. To assist
CDC scientists in development of future research efforts, these investigators will
also complete a comprehensive review of the available literature on the diagnosis of
ovarian cancer.
- School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
The School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (a CDC-funded
Prevention Research Center) is conducting a 2-year study on 200 ovarian cancer cases
diagnosed at their comprehensive cancer center. The objectives are similar to those
for the project described above, but the research methods differ. This project
collects medical record data from the providers who initially evaluated and treated
the women prior to their referral to the cancer center.
- North American Association of Central Cancer Registries
The North American Association of Central Cancer Registries has
received funding for one year to support two objectives: 1) to analyze and report
data on ovarian cancer incidence by race, and 2) to explore new ways to improve the
accuracy and completeness of ovarian cancer incidence and mortality data among women
who are neither Caucasian or African American.
- Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Southern California
The Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Southern California
(Los Angeles) has been funded for one year to analyze cancer registry data on low
malignancy potential (borderline) ovarian cancer cases in California. Data sources
include the Cancer Surveillance Program of Los Angeles County, the National Cancer
Institute's Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program, and the
California Cancer Registry. Women with borderline ovarian tumors are being compared
to women with other ovarian cancers on histologic subtype, race/ethnicity, age at
diagnosis, country of origin, religion, surgical treatment, and survival patterns.
- Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center
The Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center (another CDC-funded Prevention
Research Center) was funded to conduct a multi-component 2-year study of
health-seeking behavior in women experiencing possible ovarian cancer symptoms. One
component of this project will interview a sample of women from the general
population. Another will focus on women identified in clinical settings.
- State tumor registries in California, Maryland, and New York
The State tumor registries in California, Maryland, and New York have received new
funding from the National Program of Cancer Registries to support special analyses of
ovarian cancer treatment data obtained by medical record review. Each state will
conduct a 3-year study of 1500 cases from their registry. The primary objectives of
the analyses are to determine the proportion of women who had their initial
de-bulking surgery performed by a gynecologic oncologist and to detail various
aspects of the first course of treatment provided (typically chemotherapy).
- Battelle Centers for Public
Health Research and Evaluation
A 1-year task order contract has been awarded to
Battelle Centers for Public
Health Research and Evaluation to complete a review of the medical literature on
clinical management of non-specific abdominal and pelvic symptoms potentially
suspicious of ovarian cancer in older women. The literature review will provide the
foundation for CDC funding to develop evidence-based guidelines for primary care
providers to increase the proportion of ovarian cancer cases diagnosed in early
stages. Battelle will also conduct exploratory work related to the use of
ultrasonagraphy as a diagnostic tool.
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