Two Queen's profs part of national ovarian cancer initiative

2011 October 13

Queen's University professors are part of a new pan-Canadian initiative that aims to change the way ovarian cancer is diagnosed and managed.
Janet Dancey and Jeremy Squire are among the 35 investigators from across Canada taking part in COEUR, a five-year, multi-site program that will identify new biomarkers to predict and treat the relatively rare but deadly form of cancer.
"This project is tremendously important for identifying markers for early diagnosis and for improved treatment options for patients with ovarian cancer," says Dr. Dancey, a professor in the Department of Oncology and a medical oncologist at Kingston General Hospital.
The team's work will help clinicians better determine what treatment will work best for each patient. Patients who do not respond to standard therapy can be directed to clinical trials where new therapies are being validated.
"It is a privilege to be part of this extraordinary national effort," says Dr. Squire, a professor in the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine and doctor at Kingston General Hospital. "We all believe this project will contribute enormously to relieving the burden of ovarian cancer."
The Terry Fox Research Institute (TFRI) initiative, and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer are providing a total of $5-million in funding for the program. The NCIC Clinical Trials Group at Queen's is also collaborating on the project.
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