Ovarian cancer is a highly dreaded cancer to strike women. It is considered as the fifth leading cause of cancer mortalities in women and tops the rank as the cause of death from gynecological malignancy. Its diagnosis in early stages is difficult, as it does not display any specific symptoms. Therefore, diagnosis usually occurs after it reaches the advanced stages where survival is threatened. Women above the age of 50 face a higher risk of developing this cancer.
Letrozole hormone therapy, a new therapy for tackling ovarian cancers has been proposed by researchers in UK. The mode of action of the therapy is to slow down the progress and spread of ovarian cancers by blocking the supply of the hormone oestrogen to the tumors. Scientists suggest that this therapy is particularly useful for targetting oestrogen-sensitive cancers. This therapy is already in use to deal with the breast tumors and now its use is being extended to those suffering from ovarian cancer.
Professor John F Smyth, a professor of Medical Oncology at Edinburgh who was involved with and led this research says,
“This is an important landmark in the research and treatment of ovarian cancer. Despite intense scientific research over the past 20 years, there have been few new leads in our understanding of how this disease operates. But this study suggests that the addition of hormone therapy to our treatment strategy could extend and improve the lives of women with cancer.”
The results of this study in print in the journal, Clinical Cancer Research come after a study on 44 women living with oestrogen-sensitive ovarian cancers. The notable part was that these women had previously undergone surgery and chemotherapy but in vain as the cancers had relapsed. A quarter of the subjects showed no tumor growth at all owing to six months of anti-oestrogen therapy.
Thus, this therapy could offer hopes of longevity to women struck by ovarian cancer. In addition, the therapy is a new and better alternative to chemotherapy.
Image: Msnbc
Via: DailyMail