Tackling Ovarian Cancer at Cancer Action Research Centre

As part of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month 2019, we are meeting some of our incredible Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre team.

While survival outcomes have dramatically improved for some cancers, for others like ovarian cancer, they have remained relatively unchanged. Ovarian cancer is still the most lethal of gynaecological malignancies and has five year survival of around 40 per cent.

The poor survival rate can be attributed to both clinical and molecular factors. Ovarian cancer often presents at an advanced stage and can quickly become resistant to chemotherapy. Chemotherapy resistance is a significant obstacle to the successful management of most cancers and understanding the processes by which cells become resistant is essential if we want to improve survival from the disease.

The Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre (OCARC) was established in 2006 to tackle ovarian cancer across all stages of the cancer patient’s journey, from early detection; screening and diagnosis; treatment; and survivorship and long-term management of the disease.

Professor Iain McNeish – Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre Director

What is your role at the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre?

As the Director of the Research Centre, my aim is to build upon the success of the past decade and to explore new areas of research. For example, my lab has been investigating the interaction between ovarian cancer and the immune system and I hope to continue that work here. 

Why is ovarian cancer research so important?

It's only through research that we will improve the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer in women in the UK and throughout the world. There is so much we need to learn but I'm inspired to keep trying because I'm fascinated by this disease and determined to do my part if we are to cure more women.

Did you always want to be a scientist?

I certainly always wanted to be a doctor – apparently I announced this to anyone who would listen when I was about three years old. My interest in science and research was kindled at medical school. I had a brief wobble when I thought about becoming a conductor, (orchestra rather than bus), but reality and common sense prevailed.

I embarked on a PhD soon after qualifying in medicine, which is when I became interested in ovarian cancer. I've had the privilege (and challenge) of being able to combine laboratory research in ovarian cancer and clinical work as a medical oncologist since the end of my PhD in 1998.

What are your hopes for the future of the Ovarian Cancer Research Centre?

Quite simply, I wish the Research Centre to be at the forefront of international research efforts in ovarian cancer. I want it to be driving the research agenda; to be addressing critical questions; to be collaborating with others worldwide; and to be a beacon in international efforts to cure ovarian cancer.

Professor Bob Brown - Professor of Translational Oncology

How did you get this job? What were you doing before?

I joined the Department of Surgery & Cancer in 2007 after being strongly encouraged to apply for the post by the senior leadership team in Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London. Importantly, I saw it as an opportunity to develop my research interests in drug resistance and to tackle new challenges, in both education and research. 

Previously I had worked at the CRUK Beatson Laboratories in Glasgow University. Although I regretted leaving Scotland, I saw it as an exciting opportunity to work with the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre and internationally leading cancer researchers in the Division of Cancer at Imperial College and Institute of Cancer Research.

What made you want to research ovarian cancer?

I want to understand the biology of ovarian cancer and how it evolves. Not only when the woman is first diagnosed, but also how the tumour characteristics change following chemotherapy and the implications of this for new approaches to treatment. 

Over the last few years we have begun to understand more about how and from what cell ovarian cancer develops. It is a disease where most patients respond to conventional, carboplatin-based chemotherapy and an increasing number of molecularly-targeted agents are becoming available.  However, despite these exciting research advances, survival for women with ovarian cancer has not improved much over the last several decades. 

We need better treatments for women when they fail current options; we need to identify who will benefit from personalised treatments, and we need to explore innovative approaches to clinical trials. The challenge is using our understanding of the biology of ovarian cancer to get the right drugs to the right patients quicker.

What’s your vision for the future of ovarian cancer treatment?

Having the right treatment for the right patients quicker. This will be based on using functional imaging or molecular analysis of patient-derived tissue samples to allow better diagnosis and increased precision of treatment.

Dr Sophie McNamara - Laboratory Manager

What is your role at the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre?

I am the lab manager for the OCARC, the McNeish research group and the Division of Cancer.

How did you get this job?

I moved to London after my PhD to work at Imperial in a microbiology research lab. After gaining several years’ experience supporting a successful research group as a technician, I moved campuses to become lab manager in the Division of Cancer. I was particularly interested in working with Professor McNeish to support his research into oncolytic viruses.

Describe a typical day at work?

My main role is to support the researchers in their work i.e. carrying out lab/equipment inductions, trouble-shooting faulty equipment/co-ordinating engineer’s visits, purchasing consumables for the researchers, looking for new, safer and more efficient equipment/methods to save researchers’ time and costs. I help to conduct risk assessments for experiment protocols and advise on safe systems of work. I also enjoy organising lab tours for OCA Tribute wall events.

What keeps you motivated on a hard day?

The researchers are very supportive and friendly – we all work well as a team but reading the names and messages of the Tribute Wall at the OCARC really keeps me going on difficult days. Knowing that the research I’m supporting may lead to better patient outcomes and fewer names on the wall is a great motivator.

What made you want to be involved in ovarian cancer research?

My lovely, funny auntie died of ovarian cancer 3 years ago. She is greatly missed. Like many families we were unaware of the significance of her symptoms until it was too late and the prognosis was poor. I want to be involved in research that could change this for other families so that a greater awareness plus a better understanding and improved treatments for the disease allow relatives and friends more time with their loved one.     

Dr Jonathan Krell - Consultant Medical Oncologist

Describe a typical day at work. How do you divide your time between patients/the lab?

50% of my time is clinical and 50% is in research but generally, the two are intertwined. The research involves clinical trials, translational research from trials and pure laboratory research as well. I tend to spend most days doing all these roles.

What made you want to research ovarian cancer?

My earlier research was mainly in breast cancer, where I developed a specialist interest in BRCA and hereditary causes of cancer. This led me towards further interest in ovarian cancer as well. I have since developed a greater interest in ovarian cancer than any others, especially given the fact we are a long way behind breast cancer in terms of targeted and biological therapies.

What keeps you motivated on a hard day?

All our amazing patients give me the motivation I need to keep working to improve what we can do to help them. The job is very hard but when we manage to improve a patient’s quality of life that’s probably the most fulfilling part of it.

What do you dream of achieving?

Improving the way we screen for and prevent ovarian cancer so that more women survive this disease.

What’s your vision for the future of ovarian cancer treatment?

By understanding the biology of ovarian cancer better with time we will have many more personalised approaches to treating it better.

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(Images and videos from Ovarian Cancer Action)