Small cell carcinoma of the ovary strikes young women, leaving
little hope
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Nov. 19, 2010 - International businessman and
philanthropist Foster Friess has donated $50,000 to help launch a
study of small cell carcinoma of the ovary (SCCO) by the
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and the Van Andel
Research Institute (VARI).
Friess made the donation in memory of Taryn Ritchey, 22, who in
2007 succumbed to SCCO, a rare and extremely aggressive cancer that
strikes women in the prime of life.
"Taryn's dying wish was to be able to help other young women so
they won't have to go through what she went through," said her
mother, Judy Jost of Cave Creek, Ariz., who works as a personal
assistant to Friess.
Friess, who splits his time between Jackson, Wyo., and Scottsdale,
Ariz., previously donated $300,000 to TGen for ovarian cancer
research.
In addition, Tom Benford of Peoria, Ariz. - whose daughter Andrea
Benford Theis, 31, died of SCCO in 2006 - plans to donate a portion
of the proceeds from sales of his new book, Standing Tall, to the
research project. Inspired by Andrea's illness, the book is about
what it takes to get through any kind of life-changing
crisis.
Benford, part of a growing network of families affected by SCCO,
said he hopes the new TGen-VARI study will draw information from
the death of his daughter and other victims of SCCO that could lead
to effective treatments for this disease. "These are young women,
most of whom have lost their lives. Now, their tumor samples can
contribute to this new study. I feel blessed that my daughter is
part of it."
SCCO primarily affects adolescent girls and young women, ranging
from age 9 to 43. The average age for onset of the disease is only
24. The chance of survival is extremely poor, even when the disease
is diagnosed at an early stage.
SCCO tumors are very rare, accounting for less than 1 percent of
all ovarian cancers diagnosed. The cause and progression of the
disease is not understood, and in almost all cases it has proven
resistant to conventional treatments.
"The loved ones of women taken by this rare disease have recently
come to both TGen and VARI looking for answers based on new
research evidence. Unfortunately, very little is known about SCCO.
We intend with this new study to discover the genetic and molecular
underpinnings of this disease and find new and effective ways to
treat it,'' said Dr. Heather Cunliffe, head of TGen's Breast and
Ovarian Cancer Research Unit and the study's Principal
Investigator.
Other investigators include: Dr. Brian Haab, head of VARI's
Laboratory of Cancer Immunodiagnostics; Dr. Kyle Furge, head of
VARI's Laboratory of Computational Biology; and Dr. Jeffrey Trent,
President and Research Director of both TGen and VARI, who also
leads an active cancer research laboratory.
"Besides studying the most common diseases that afflict humanity,
TGen and VARI specialize in rare, or orphan, cancers. We can use
our advanced genomic technologies to better examine the origins of
rare cancers like SCCO, and give patients hope for better outcomes
in the future," Dr. Trent said.
The first goal of the study is to collect SCCO tumor and blood
samples. Patients, or their loved ones, may find instructions for
study enrolment and biospecimen donation at
www.tgen.org/scco.
TGen and VARI researchers will examine tumors and blood samples
using advanced genomic approaches. They will attempt to understand
the molecular forces that likely drive onset, rapid progression and
drug-resistant nature of this disease. Researchers also will study
how SCCO differs from more common forms of ovarian cancer.
Symptoms of ovarian cancer include bloating, pelvic or abdominal
pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly, the need to urinate
urgently and often. SCCO patients commonly also experience symptoms
of nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Ovarian cancer is not detectable
through routine Pap smears. There currently is insufficient
molecular evidence to propose an effective targeted
treatment.
SCCO tumors range about 2-10 inches in length, and average about 6
inches. The tumor cells grow extremely fast. Currently, the
surgical removal of both ovaries and the uterus is the standard
treatment in the early-stage SCCO patients. For the higher stage or
recurrent tumors, multi-agent chemotherapy and radiotherapy show
some improvement in survival. Despite aggressive chemotherapeutic
treatment regimens, nearly 3 in 4 SCCO patients succumb to their
disease within 1-2 years of diagnosis.
*
About Van Andel Institute
Established by Jay and Betty Van Andel in 1996, Van Andel Institute
(VAI) is an independent research and educational organization based
in Grand Rapids, Mich., dedicated to preserving, enhancing and
expanding the frontiers of medical science, and to achieving
excellence in education by probing fundamental issues of education
and the learning process. VARI, the research arm of VAI, is
dedicated to probing the genetic, cellular and molecular origins of
cancer, Parkinson and other diseases and working to translate those
findings into effective therapies. This is accomplished through the
work of over 200 researchers in 18 on-site laboratories and in
collaborative partnerships that span the globe. VARI is affiliated
with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) of
Phoenix, Arizona. For more information see: www.vai.org.
Media Contact:
Joe Gavan
Vice President, Communications and External Relations
(616) 234-5390
[email protected]
*
About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at
TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer,
neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of
translational research where investigators are able to unravel the
genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with
collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen
believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency
and effectiveness of the translational process. TGen is affiliated
with the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
For more information, visit: www.tgen.org.
Media Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
# # #