Following the popularity of the grant made to the Institute of Cancer Research to fund research into male cancers (see pages 44-46), in September 2008 the Grand Charity decided to make an additional donation of £1 million to Ovarian Cancer Action, the UK’s leading charity investigating ovarian cancer. The decision to award the grant, which will be paid in instalments over five years, was made after extensive consultation with Freemasons’ wives. And the money gifted will be used to fund research as well as assist the charity in its quest to raise awareness of the disease.
     The Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre is based at Hammersmith Hospital in West London, and is a collaboration project between Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, The Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research. Since it was opened in 2004, the Centre has been led by Professor Hani Gabra, a leading pioneer in the field of ovarian cancer research, and under his direction sixty four researchers work on the disease, including Professors, Doctors, PhD and Master degree students, as well as other health care professionals, in what is the only research centre dedicated to this form of cancer in Europe. And this summer I was fortunate enough to visit the Centre to find out more about its invaluable work.
     I met Professor Gabra in the pleasant surroundings of the Centre’s lounge and reception area, where, over a coffee, he proceeded to tell me about the challenges that confront both him and his team. Affable and charismatic, Professor Gabra exudes an authoritative and yet calm persona –– the sort of personality that seems to befit a scientist and healthcare professional at the top of his game. But behind the jovial exterior is clearly a dedicated man intent upon combating the disease.
     Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common female cancer in the UK and approximately 6,800 women are diagnosed with the disease. It is the highest gynaecological killer of women and the fourth most common cause of death from cancer in women in the country and around two thirds of those diagnosed with the disease will unfortunately die from it; a recent example being the popular comedian Linda Smith. But as Professor Gabra explained, this need not be the case, for if the cancer is detected in its early stages, up to 90% of women diagnosed with the condition will live for more than five years. Unfortunately, however, most women in the UK are not diagnosed until the cancer has already spread, making successful treatment difficult and survival rates much lower.
     The exact causes of ovarian cancer are unknown, although as Professor Gabra explained, evidence suggests that there is a direct correlation between the damage caused to a woman’s ovaries during monthly ovulation and the total number of ovulations experienced during a lifetime. Consequently, a woman who has children would appear to be less at risk of developing ovarian cancer than a woman who does not, simply because she will experience fewer ovulations.
     Similarly, it is also known that if a woman takes the contraceptive pill for a period of five years she will reduce her chances of contracting the condition by as much as 40% throughout her life.
     Genes are also a factor and it is known that Polish, Iraqi and Ashkenazi Jewish women, among others, are more susceptible to developing the disease. In addition, diet is known to play a significant role, for as Professor Gabra was keen to point out, ‘we know that vegetable matter reduces the risk of cancer’, while diets which are high in fat are associated with an increased risk.
     A sizeable proportion of the Centre’s research is concerned with developing targeted therapies, which involves developing new drugs, as well as new and more effective ways to use them. Here Professor Gabra spoke about his team’s attempts to establish what he terms ‘roadblocks’ within the cell so that the cancer can be stopped in its tracks, before molecules can be extracted from the cancer and compared with the data already available to scientists for detailed analysis. This is known as laying down biomarkers and once achieved the hope is that a more targeted response may be devised to deal with the cancer. However, as the cancer cells themselves are an exemplary component of Darwinian natural selection, their ability to adapt and mutate is strong, which in turn causes acute problems for scientists in their attempt to construct ‘roadblocks’ or ‘traffic jams’ within the cell.
     But despite the difficulties, Professor Gabra remains upbeat and he emphasised how survival rates for sufferers are improving, although he concedes there is still much to do.
     One effective way that survival rates from ovarian cancer can be improved is by increasing awareness of the condition – one of Ovarian Cancer Action’s main stated objectives. However, early detection is problematic because many of the classic symptoms of this cancer can easily be mistaken for simple stomach complaints, such as irritable bowels, bloating and pelvic pain. But as Professor Gabra stated, if women suffer from these seemingly innocuous symptoms on a regular basis, they should perhaps consider visiting their GP, as prevention with this disease is also very much a part of its cure.
     For further information please visit: www.ovarian.org.uk