Patients from Vancouver Island, and other parts of BC, are playing a key role in research to find more successful treatments for ovarian cancer, which remains a challenging disease.

Since August 2007, researchers at the BC Cancer Agency’s Trev & Joyce Deeley Research Centre in Victoria have been working with donated tissue samples as part of the "Immune Response to Ovarian Cancer (IROC)" project to determine how the immune system can influence survival.

"In the past few years, we have learned that if high numbers of certain ‘T cells’ are present within the tumour, women will have a more favourable prognosis," said Dr. Brad Nelson, Director and Senior scientist at the Deeley Research Centre (DRC).

"We’re working hard to find ways to enhance this response in all ovarian cancer cases and hopefully help to improve survival and quality of life for our patients."

The DRC has published their findings in two research papers in the scientific journal PloS One in October 2008 and July 2009. Two more papers have been submitted this year.

To date, over 50 ovarian cancer patients from Vancouver Island have generously volunteered to donate serial blood samples, tissue, and clinical data to enable DRC researchers to move forward with their research into T cells and immune responses.

"I can’t overstate how much we appreciate the blood and tissue donations that patients have contributed to our study," said Dr. Nelson. "These samples have given us incredibly important insights into the battle between the immune system and cancer, and we’re coming up with exciting new approaches to help patients with this battle."

To learn more about the IROC project, contact the Deeley Research Centre at 250-519-5700.

The project has been made possible by funding from local Vancouver Island donations to the BC Cancer Foundation, and more recently through grants from the US Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

The BC Cancer Agency, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer, and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. It provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. The BC Cancer Foundation raises funds to support research and enhancements to patient care at the BC Cancer Agency throughout B.C.

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Media contact:

Sonya Kruger
Communications Specialist
BC Cancer Agency
Tel: 604.877.6020
skruger@bccancer.bc.ca