Active clinical trials for "Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial"

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the extraperitoneal approach is better than the transperitoneal approach for laparoscopic aortic lymphadenectomy for the surgical staging of endometrial or ovarian cancer.

RATIONALE: Studying samples of exhaled breath from patients with ovarian epithelial cancer, polycystic ovarian syndrome, or endometriosis and from healthy participants in the laboratory may help doctors identify and learn more about biomarkers related to cancer. It may also help doctors find and diagnose ovarian epithelial cancer sooner, when it may be easier to treat. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying exhaled breath biomarkers to see how well they find ovarian epithelial cancer in patients with newly diagnosed ovarian epithelial cancer, polycystic ovarian syndrome, or endometriosis and in healthy participants.

There is growing evidence that our immune system can help fight cancer. This has stimulated interest in the development and application of tumor vaccines for several human solid tumors, including epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). A major obstacle to the development of these vaccines is that there are specialty cells called regulatory T cells that prevent the immune system from attacking all of our organs. These regulatory T cells also prevent our immune system for attacking cancer cells. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an enzyme that degrades an essential amino acid tryptophan that is necessary for T cells to multiply, however regulatory T cells are less susceptible to low levels of tryptophan, and can still multiply. This allows cancer growth and progression. This may be explained by genetic polymorphisms (changes) in the IDO gene, which may alter its function. Five of these changes in the IDO gene have been described. In this research project, we are asking if you would donate a small piece of your tumor and ascites to see if we can examine your IDO gene in the tumor cells and see if any of these gene changes are present. We hope that this will help us understand how the immune system works in EOC. We hypothesize that genetic polymorphisms within the IDO gene alter its enzymatic activity and affect the outcome of ovarian cancer patients. These findings have the potential to translate into a method for predicting successful immunotherapy.

RATIONALE: Measuring the amount of prostaglandin metabolite in urine samples and studying tissue samples in the laboratory from patients with ovarian cancer may help doctors identify and learn more about biomarkers related to ovarian cancer and may help the study of cancer in the future. PURPOSE: This laboratory study is measuring the amount of prostaglandin metabolite in urine samples from patients with ovarian cancer.

In this study the investigators would like to explore the patient and tumour characteristics of long-term survivors of ovarian cancer (>10 years). Indentifiying the characteristics of long-term survivors not only helps find prognostic factors for survival but may aid in generating hypotheses for novel therapeutic strategies.

BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, are implicated in 10-15% of ovarian cancer cases, increased to 22% germline BRCA1/2 mutation frequency in patients with high grade serous histology subtype, including those women who have no family history of breast or ovarian cancer. With the rapid advancement of therapeutics targeted this population, this protocol seeks to provide genetic BRCA1/2 screening to all patients with high grade serous ovarian cancer. This information may help in selection of future treatment options and genetic testing for BRCA1/2 may be used to potentially prevent a proportion of cancer for the family members. This study will be an opportunity for patient to improve access at genetic and molecular testing for BRCA1/2 mutation which could impact her future treatment option. Moreover, this study will allow to prospectively assess the proportion of patients with BRCA mutation in ovarian cancer and describe the type of mutations identified in a large population.

The investigators propose to totally abolish the emesis (vomiting) associated with the regimen of oxaliplatin + topotecan by adding a daily administration of aprepitant (Emend) for 17 days to the HT3 blocker routinely given on days 1 and 15.

This clinical trial studies positron emission tomography (PET) imaging utilizing 18F-FSPG [(S)-4-(3-[18F]Fluoropropyl)-L-glutamic acid], a glutamic acid derivative, to image patients with ovarian cancer before undergoing surgery or transplant. Diagnostic procedures, such as 18F-FSPG PET, may help find and diagnose ovarian cancer and find out how far the disease has spread.

The purpose of this study is to enroll participants who present with an adnexal mass on imaging to develop a non-invasive ovarian cancer assay to distinguish between malignant and benign masses. The study will collect blood, tissue, and health information from these individuals.

The primary objective is to administer a cross-sectional survey to directly compare the differences patients and physicians hold regarding ovarian cancer prognosis and survival, complications arising from treatment, and counseling on advance directives, living wills, palliative care, and hospice services. Overall, the project will pinpoint opportunities for better patient physician communication regarding prognosis and end-of-life care and allow for more informed and tailored decision-making.