When a woman is initially diagnosed with ovarian cancer, her treatment typically includes surgery followed by chemotherapy drugs like Carboplatin and Taxol. This treatment is effective in the great majority of women, but, unfortunately, the cancer frequently comes back and a new treatment is needed. When cancer recurs, it is likely to be different from the original cancer because tumors turn on other pathways to escape from the killing effects of chemotherapy.
Therefore, for women with recurrent or refractory ovarian cancer, Clearity Foundation’s Tumor Blueprint is generated using a tumor specimen from the recurrent cancer because it is most relevant for the cancer that is to be treated. The Tumor Blueprint provides information to help guide the selection of therapy options, including identification of clinical trials that might be appropriate.
Tumor profiling is most likely to be useful if one of the following statements describes your situation:
- “I am having a recurrence since my first diagnosis and my doctor has planned another surgery or a biopsy to remove tumor tissue.”
- “I have had a recurrence since my first diagnosis and another surgery or biopsy was performed to remove tumor tissue during the last year.”
- “I have had a recurrence or my cancer progressed within a year of my first diagnosis.”
The Clearity Foundation has partnered with clinical laboratories that perform the analysis of the biomarkers in the Tumor Blueprint. In order to do the testing, a small piece of tumor tissue is needed. The Clearity team will work with your physician to arrange for the tumor sample to be tested.
