Limitations of homologous recombination status testing and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor treatment in the current management of ovarian cancer https://tinyurl.com/ca67pusw Recognition of the importance of defective DNA repair  (DDR)  as the cause for most ovarian cancer  has radically changed the prospects  for survival. Initially demonstrated as the basis for  hereditary breast and ovarian cancer through the BRCA genetic mutation,  DDR is the target for personalised therapy with enzyme inhibition using   PARPi . It is now realised that DDR is much more  common  and the basic defect i s described as homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) , which is not confined to the BRCA mutation . It is possible to test directly f or  HRD  and this has increased the number of women who have been assigned personalised therapy. However, there are problems; not all HRD women respond to PARPi, many develop resi stance to the drug and it i...

Prospective analysis of circulating biomarkers and ovarian cancer risk in the UK Biobank https://tinyurl.com/4p825ens As an interesting variation of the use of biomarkers in the prediction of ovarian cancer ,  this article looks at the serum biomarkers which make ovarian c ancer less likely. The data for this analysis is taken from the UK Biobank. This is a remarkable source of information. Established in 2013, ther e are 500,000 participants in the UK, who underwent genetic and phenotypic testing, looking for  strategies to reduce cancer  and other diseases . For this study, the  presence  of  20 biomarkers was compared to the  risk of  later development of ovarian cancer for more than 230,000 women . From the analysis it is shown that  high levels   of  t hree  of   these markers  (IGF -1, HbA1-c, and alanine aminotrans ferase )  are protective in that the incidence of ovarian cancer is reduced for these women....

Accuracy of ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and intraoperative frozen section in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors : data from a London tertiary  centr e https://tinyurl.com/4f74v2sa Sometimes it can be difficult to differentiate between benign and malignant masses found in the ovary . For best management of ovarian  tumors ,  it is crucial to  identify  cancer before surgery so that the co rrect technique can be used. This study  looked at 156 ovarian masses which were surgically removed .   T he final diagnosis, obtained by pathological examination wa s compared to the pre-operative diagnosis obtained by ultrasound MRI or intraoperative frozen section . Results from the study showed that  f rozen section was the  best at  determining  the presence of borderline and malignant tumors. Ultrasound and MRI have high specifici ty at diagnosing benign  tumors  but both these modalities have low predictive values when ...

A pre-operative scoring model to estimate the risk of blood transfusion over an ovarian cancer debulking surgery (BLOODS score) https://tinyurl.com/y37f76dh Surgical procedures  required  for the  initial  treatment of  ovarian  cancer are complex and  lengthy,  frequently  involving blood  loss .   M eaning  transfusion  of donated blood is  necessary.  Previous  studies have shown that blood transfusion occurs in 40 –70% of  initi al  ovarian cancer debulking surgical procedures. Blood transfusion is not without hazard .   T hose patients who  require  blood have increased risk of infection, altered immunity ,  and higher mortality ,  and morbidity. This article tests  a scoring system which can  assist  by  identifying   patients likely to require transfusion prior to surgery . With this knowledge ,  it may be possible to reduce the need for...