UCLA study: Combination therapy may be more effective against the most common ovarian cancer [6]

Published August 3 [11] in the journal Nature Communications, research from physician scientist Dr. Sanaz Memarzadeh [12] – member of the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center – identified an ovarian 'cancer stem cell' that may be the key to unlocking the secret to recurring disease and significantly changing the way a common form of ovarian cancer is treated.

For decades, researchers have been trying to unravel the mystery behind why up to 85 percent of women experience recurrence of epithelial ovarian cancer after initial treatment. Dr. Memarzadeh’s recent preclinical discoveries have potentially solved this mystery. Her team uncovered and isolated the 'cancer stem cells' that cause ovarian cancer recurrence and identified a drug that, in combination with standard treatments, may hold the potential to stop these cells in their tracks.

Dr. Memarzadeh and her team at UCLA are now focused on bringing this therapy combination to patients via a clinical trial, which has the potential to successfully treat up to 50 percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

To learn more about Dr. Memarzadeh’s study, read the press release [13] on UCLA Newsroom.

To learn more about ways to support Dr. Memarzadeh’s efforts, please email Sara Kalish at SKalish@mednet.ucla.edu [14].