Funded by the Kay Yow Cancer Fund
The research supported in this proposal will impact patients with ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is the most common cause of gynecologic cancer death. Noninvasive imaging is critical for detecting disease and monitoring response to treatment. However, current methods are inadequate and better approaches are urgently needed. Our concept is that the protein cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), which is expressed at high amounts in ovarian cancer, can be used to detect and monitor the spread of disease and response to treatment. We will test a first-of-its-kind COX-1 targeted PET molecule in mouse models of ovarian cancer. Our study paves the way to clinical trials of a much-needed new imaging technique to benefit women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
