Cancer Research That Caught my Eye

Two emails, I received from the NCI this week contained studies that caught my eye.  

Aged and BRCA mutated stromal cells drive epithelial cell transformation

https://aacrjournals.org/cancerdiscovery/article/doi/10.1158/2159-8290.CD-24-0805/754132/Aged-and-BRCA-mutated-stromal-cells-drive 

https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2025/ovarian-cancer-stic-high-risk-mscs?cid=eb_govdel

We now know that precancerous growths called serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) lesions in the fallopian tube lead to high grade serous ovarian cancer. This study found STIC lesions in the ovary develop with the aid of a specific type of stem cell called high-risk mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The MSCs are found in the stroma ( tissue ) under the STIC lesions. When researchers inserted MSC's and healthy fallopian tube tissue into mice the mice developed ovarian cancer. It appears from this study that there is involvement of MSCs in the development of ovarian cancer although more research will need to be done. 

Expanding Research on Dormant Cancer Cells Aims to Prevent Metastasis  

 

https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2025/metastasis-dormant-cancer-cells-immune-system?cid=eb_govdel_cancerinfo 

 

I often wonder why some people can go years after a cancer diagnosis and treatment before a recurrence occurs. Could it be that cells go dormant? Then what activates them to grow? This article looked at the latest dormant cancer cell research. Both of these studies used breast cancer mouse models.

The first study mentioned in the article discusses how breast cancer cells that migrated to the lungs stay dormant due to immune cells. Alveolar macrophages express transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2 and along with macrophage-cancer cell interactions via the TGF-βRIII receptor keep the cancer cells in a dormant state. ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39378878/). 

A second study used three mouse models. It was found that Natural killer (NK) cells was required to keep the breast cancer cells dormant. The dormant cells resemble cancer stem cells. (https://aacrjournals.org/cancerres/article/84/20/3337/749081/Natural-Killer-Cell-Regulation-of-Breast-Cancer) 

I know of ovarian cancer (OC) survivors who recurred more than 10 years after their initial diagnosis. It makes me wonder if there are dormant OC cells in the pelvis and abdomen long after treatment who are kept in check by immune cells. Could the work currently being done on the tumor microenvironment help us understand if there is an OC stem cell kept in check by our own immune system. 

 

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!

 

 

 

From a Distance: SGO Annual Meeting 2025 - Ovarian Cancer Highlights

I was unable to attend the SGO Annual meeting this year due to a family commitment but I did follow along on X(Twitter).

To kept on top of the action, I followed SGO Social Media Ambassadors Social Media Ambassadors on X- @RiosDoriaMD , @nicoleflemingmd, @meddles28, and @ShannonWestin and others.

Here are some of their ovarian cancer research posts I found most interesting :

Trop-2 is a cell surface protein expressed by cancer cells 

ADC Antibody Drug Conjugate 

Stomatitis is inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth . 

58 patients in the study

Dr Rubinstein presenting novel Trop-2 ADC at 3mg/kg dose led to 80% disease control rate in plat-resistant #ovariancancer. Most common toxicity stomatitis which can be managed with early intervention. #SGOMtg #SGO2025 pic.twitter.com/vBqb7Hus5n

— Nicole D. Fleming MD (@nicoleflemingmd) March 15, 2025

 

GOG 3066/DENALI 

Azenosertib an enzyme inhibitor that binds to called Wee1 and disrupt cell reproduction. 

Cyclin E1 is a protein is encoded by the CCNE1 gene.

 

#SGOMtg- on the scene with Dr Fiona Simpkins to discuss impact of her work exploring WEE1 inhibition in CCNE1-expressing #ovariancancer #gyncsm #SGO2025 @nicoleflemingmd @RiosDoriaMD @meddles28 pic.twitter.com/jmNi8qk8Cv

— Shannon Westin, MD, MPH, FASCO (@ShannonWestin) March 15, 2025

Exciting data by Dr Simpkins from GOG 3066/DENALI study showing activity of Azenosertib in plat-resistant #ovariancancer stratified by cyclin E1 IHC overexpression. ORR 35% in cyclin E1 biomarker positive! #SGOMtg #SGO2025 pic.twitter.com/mlPRIc6AmM

— Nicole D. Fleming MD (@nicoleflemingmd) March 15, 2025

 GOG 3044

Afuresertib inhibitor of the serine/threonine protein kinase Akt (protein kinase B) . No significant difference in progression free or overall survival.

 

Dr. Herzog presenting @GOG PROFECTA-II/GOG-3044 trial of paclitaxel +/- afuresertib for platinum resistant ov cancer. Negative trial, but identified targets! @SGO_org @GOG #SGO2025 #SGOMtg pic.twitter.com/ZRz5NbAuPv

— erin medlin (@meddles28) March 15, 2025

Starting day 2 of scientific presentations @SGO_org! Dr Herzog presents data from GOG 3044 showing no benefit adding Afuresertib to weekly Taxol in plat-resistant recurrent #ovariancancer. #SGOMtg #SGO2025 pic.twitter.com/up5P6Zb0SZ

— Nicole D. Fleming MD (@nicoleflemingmd) March 15, 2025

EWOC-1 was a study of three different chemotherapy regimens . Use of carboplatin alone was associated with poorer survival.

Congratulations ⁦@JudeNawlo⁩ on ⁦evaluating post-EWOC practice patterns in elderly cohort #ovarinacancer pts! Pts w single agent carbo had worst outcomes- impt@to use platinum doublet when feasible. ⁦@SGO_org⁩ ⁦@GOG⁩ ⁦@IGCSociety⁩ @gyncsm ⁦ pic.twitter.com/efZNiyyP29

— Bhavana Pothuri (@BPothuri) March 15, 2025

 

 Mirv MIRASOL Study of ocular events.

During the #SGOMtg, Tashanna Myers, MD from Baystate Medical Center (@BaystateHealth) presents results from the phase 3 MIRASOL study, which tested the impact of treatment-emergent ocular events on health-related quality of life in patients with FRα-positive platinum-resistance… pic.twitter.com/UxE92NmdaD

— Moffitt Cancer Center (@MoffittNews) March 17, 2025

RAINFOL-01 study (NCT05579366)  

Rinatabart sesutecan (Rina-S) a novel folate receptor alpha (FRα)–targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). The treatment in  heavily pretreated patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer  showed activity regardless of folate receptor alpha (FRα) expression level.

Rina-S Generates Durable Responses in Advanced Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer @EKLee_MD @DanaFarber @SGO_org #SGOMtg #SGO2025 #gyncsmhttps://t.co/4Fpsbj40Js

— OncLive.com (@OncLive) March 17, 2025

 Low Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer 

Combo of Avutometinib  a Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK signaling inhibitor and Defactinib is small molecule inhibtor of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) for KRAS + recurrent low grade OC.

Avutometinib/Defactinib Combo Drives Responses in Recurrent Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer @SGO_org #SGO2025 #SGOMtg #ovcahttps://t.co/LnYiBw2Vb4

— OncLive.com (@OncLive) March 17, 2025

Please let me know if I missed anything you felt was important for patients/ survivors. 

 I was happy to see ways that patient advocates, researchers and clinicians were able to   #MultiplyYourImpact ! 

Thank you Dr Fader (@amandanfader)  for your leadership!  I look forward to your vision for the future,  Dr Karen Lu (@karenluMD) !

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing! 

Aspirations for 2025

Wishing you all a Happy and Health 2025. 

It's time once again to put together my list of what I aspire to do in 2025. 

• Let's start off with something that has been on my list since 2014. Yes, Visiting Maine remains on my list. Maybe this year?
• Amber is going to be 15 years old this year. I hope to continue to take her on those long walks.
• I will continue to create art - watercolor in particular.
• Exercise is on my list. I'll continue taking lessons and playing Pickleball and dancing in Jazzercise class.
• As the #gyncsm chat on X/Twitter came to a close I started thinking more about the types of advocacy work I am involved with. My ovarian cancer experience, now twenty years old is valuable on some levels but is out of date in other areas. I have no experience with any of the new treatment options. So some activities - updating this blog with the latest ovarian cancer research news, reviewing cancer research grant applications and being a patient advocate advising clinical trials and mentoring other women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will continue.  Slowly, I will scale back other time commitments. I will finish the terms of my appointments on different committees but I will not accept new positions in 2025.
• I look forward to spending more time with Nick, my children, their spouses, my grandsons and friends.
  

I think my word of the year will be SILENCE. The world is a noisy and busy place. I tend to be on the move a lot. So I'll make an effort to just be quiet - no TV, no social media, - just be. 

Dee 

Every Day is a Blessing!

Christmas Ornaments

This year our one large Christmas tree is filled with lights and ornaments, there is no ribbon, garland or tinsel to be found.  After many years of marriage, the ornaments represent memories through the years including older family ornaments,  hand-made ornaments from our children and grandchildren and ornaments from places we have visited.

My grandson was looking at the tree and asked if this ornament really was a bell. 

 

Yes, inside it is a tiny bead clapper. It makes a sweet sound. Like the bell in Its a Wonderful Life("When a bell rings an Angel gets its wings" fame. That bell ornament hung on my tree when I was growing up. 

Then I pointed to this ornament from my childhood. 

 

It is made from an egg shell that has ribbon, glitter and paper glued on it. My guess is that it is from the mid-1960's.  This is the last of its kind so it hangs high on the tree.

Then he found this ornament, holding a photo of our first pug, Kona. 

He looks a little smaller than my grandson's new black pug puppy who is pictured below waiting for a treat with his brother Walter and cousin Amber.

 

At times, looking at those older Christmas ornaments, decorations and Christmas dishes made me think of loved ones who are no longer here to share these memories with - my sister, dad, Aunt Dora and Nick's mom, dad and brother. Our family traditions -  such as  making my Aunt Dora's Christmas Love Knot cookies and hanging those old ornaments on the tree helps to keep their memories alive for all of us. 

Wishing my readers, JOY this holiday season! Thank you for letting me share my holiday with you.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing !

Eleven Years of Supporting and Educating the Gynecologic Cancer Community

In 2013, Christina Lizaso and I founded the #gyncsm chat and community on Twitter/ X. This year, eleven years later, we made the difficult decision to cease hosting the #gyncsm chat. You can read more about our decision on the #gyncsm blog.  Our last chat will be Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 8pm ET with special guest and long time #gyncsm chat supporter, Cervivor. 

 We have done so much - in addition to changing our logo through the years.

We held a total of 108 chats (including this December chat).  We covered many topics including risk factors, caregiving, parenting, working while being a cancer patient, personalized medicine, treatment side effects, how to work and communicate with your health care team and survivorship.  These chats were possible because of the many individuals, organizations and groups that supported us. 

We had support from gynecologic oncologists who volunteered their time to be our  health care moderators and others who joined the chat as guests sharing their expertise. We had researchers join us to talk about their research and new treatments available to women diagnosed with gynecologic cancers. We chatted multiple times about every gynecologic cancer including the more rare types such as vulvar, sarcomas, GTD and primary peritoneal cancer. We held two digital health fairs and invited cancer support organizations to share the resources they provide to cancer patients and their caregivers. We've talked to cancer health equity experts about how to best provide cancer health care to all women. We've had chats focused on the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis, fear of recurrence and how to talk to your children and family about your diagnosis. We've talked with genetics counselors about hereditary cancers, genetic testing and mutations. We raised awareness of pelvic health, pre-habilitation and nurse navigators. We discussed types of advocacy from research advocacy to advocating for yourself or your loved one. We talked frequently about clinical trials from the types of trials to how to search for and enroll in a trial. Annually, we shared the latest research news from the ASCO and SGO annual meetings. And we can't forget about the insights gynecologic cancer patients provided to each other and to researchers during our chats.

Personally, I have been blessed to be part of the  #gyncsm chat. I am so grateful to have worked with Christina these past 11 years to bring support and education to the gyn cancer community. Working on the chat and sharing information has opened doors for me to expand my advocacy work. I not only meet some of the top gynecologic cancer researchers in the world but have had the opportunity to work with them. I've co-authored a book, presented at oncology meetings, and worked on SGO, ASCO and NCI committees. I also have had the opportunity to be a patient advocate on a number of clinical trials. And  I learned from the gyn cancer patients and caregivers in our community- what a courageous and motivated group. I am sad to see the chat end but so appreciate the opportunities provided to me by the chat. 

I will continue to share research information on X using the #gyncsm hashtag and our blog will remain active so that members can have access to the resources and chat transcripts. 

You can find me here and as womenofteal on X, , Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Bluesky. 

 

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing

A Teal Sister's Story - Pieces of Me, Perfectly Imperfect

I have know Kimberly Simmons-Emory for over 10 years. She is a fellow ovarian cancer survivor and amazing advocate. We met in person in 2017 and I knew she had a strong faith, loved her family and  generously gave of herself supporting other women through the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance.  Recently, she published her memoir, Pieces of Me Perfectly Imperfect .

 

In her book, she shares details about her adoption, how she met her husband, found and met her sisters and faced the loss of people she loved. She poignantly shared what it felt like to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer at a young age and the friendships she formed with fellow survivors as a cancer survivor.  She highlighted her friendship with Benita, an ovarian cancer survivor. I smiled to myself as I read that section because I was blessed to have met Benita in person during a visit to Atlanta for a survivorship conference.  Kimberly did a marvelous job describing the caring Benita I knew.

I don't often read a book and underline sentences that touch me but if you picked up my autographed copy of the book you will find many underlined sections.  I hope these quotes will entice you to read  Pieces of Me Perfectly Imperfect.

"The requirement to love, protect, and guide is for the adoptive parents, other family members have a choice. In my case, I cannot recall being recognized as the "adopted" daughter ; I was Dot and Mitchell's daughter."

"We have well played tunes in our heart that make us dance to the beat, but we are occasionally interrupted because life plays its own songs."

"Sometimes we have been too hard on ourselves...We decline to see ourselves through God's eyes ...God abstracts the good, bad and ugly parts of our lives and renders every part good. "

"Change can not be controlled, but holding on to control can be changed."

"Love yields gratitude and forgiveness."

So you see this book was more than just Kim's story it offered glimpses of her faith, thoughts, emotions and advice. You will find the broken pieces of her life as well as the joys. You will see challenges, support and love. At the the back of the book you will find the  Treasured Traditions section, a place where Kimberly shares family recipes. I can't wait to try Thelma's Glorious Lemon Pound Cake.

On the book's website , Kimberly writes "I pray you will reevaluate those moments that crushed you and find beauty, courage, strength, and peace within the pieces". I hope everyone, not just cancer survivors will read this book and find the value in it that I did. 

Happy Birthday Kim and thank you for sharing yourself with all of us. 

Every Day is a Blessing!

Dee

Early Clinical Investigators - crucial to ovarian cancer research

Last week, I was invited to speak about my advocacy work and my experience with ovarian cancer during the DOD Ovarian Cancer Academy . The Academy began in 2009 through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program Ovarian Cancer Research Program (CDMRP  OCRP). Dr. Michael Seiden stated  “the amount of science that needs to be covered to really get a global understanding of ovarian cancer is massive...it brings special opportunities for researchers... because there’s a lot of room to make a difference, but it also requires the ovarian cancer community to work hard to recruit young scientists, young clinical researchers into the field because we need more individuals to commit their time, energy, and talent to the problem.” The Academy is a virtual career development process which provides early clinical investigators (ECI) from the US and abroad with mentors, networking and peer support.  The leaders of the Academy (Dr Ronny Drapkin and Dr Kenneth Nephew) serve as a resource and foster collaboration among mentors and early investigators. 

On Wednesday,  I shared my story as a survivor and advocate along with advocates and survivors, Katy Loewy, and Rebecca Esparza.  I was honored to be given an beautiful advocacy award from the Academy. 

 

While I can't share the research ideas presented during the Academy, many of the proposals were basic research proposals that did not involve patients in clinical trials but research that took place in the lab using different models. There was an interesting discussion among the Academy leaders, mentors and ECIs regarding the use of different ovarian cancer cell lines, mouse models and patient tissue from tissue banks. I learned that it can take over two years to develop these models and this development is not covered by the grant proposals but must be funded by other means.

On Thursday,  I took part in a mock grant review. We reviewed an early investigator's grant proposal and then presented our evaluation as we would during an actual grant review meeting. I found the research avenues taken by these early career investigators can have a major impact on the lives of women with ovarian cancer. The mentoring by experienced investigators will help to keep a pipe-line of ovarian cancer investigators full and it gives me great hope for the future. I can't thank Drs Drapkin and Nephew for this amazing opportunity.

It was a beautiful day on Thursday. That afternoon I had the chance go to the top of the Space Needle. Spectacular views!

 

What a way to end such an amazing trip. 

Dee 

Every Day  is a Blessing!