BRAF<\/em>\u00a0inhibitors block the activity of mutated\u00a0BRAF\u00a0<\/em>gene. They are currently used to treat patients with melanoma, which often have mutations in the\u00a0BRAF<\/em>\u00a0gene.<\/p>\n The study showed that\u00a0BRAF<\/em>\u00a0inhibitors may be effective at treating a rare type of ovarian cancer, called low-grade serous cancer, which more commonly affects younger women.<\/p>\n PhD student Dr Tania Moujaber from the Westmead Institute for Medical Research examined information from more than 1,000 ovarian cancer patients across Australia, including from the Australian Ovarian Cancer Study, to identify cases of low-grade serous cancer.<\/p>\n Dr Moujaber identified nine women with the\u00a0BRAF<\/em>\u00a0mutation. Four of these patients relapsed soon after regular primary treatment.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo of these women went into a clinical trial to test\u00a0BRAF<\/em>\u00a0inhibitors, following our research which identified their\u00a0BRAF<\/em>\u00a0mutations,\u201d Dr Moujaber explained.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth have had excellent, long-lasting responses.<\/p>\n \u201cIn contrast, the other two women received standard treatment several years before our analysis, and sadly rapidly deteriorated and died.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr Moujaber said the findings are encouraging for women with\u00a0BRAF<\/em>-mutated ovarian cancers, who may not respond to conventional chemotherapy.<\/p>\n \u201cThis treatment may not be effective for all cancers with a\u00a0BRAF<\/em>\u00a0mutation, but we are optimistic that a positive response is likely in patients with ovarian cancer,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The research was conducted by the ovarian cancer research team at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR), led by Professor Anna deFazio and Professor Paul Harnett, together with collaborators in Melbourne and Brisbane.<\/p>\n Outcomes for women with ovarian cancer are slowly improving, but the 5-year survival rate is still only 40%.<\/p>\n Professor deFazio said that one barrier to improving outcomes is that ovarian cancer is currently treated as a single disease.<\/p>\n \u201cChemotherapy and surgery are the standard treatment for women with ovarian cancer, but each patient responds differently,\u201d Professor deFazio said.<\/p>\n \u201cOvarian cancer is a complex and diverse disease, so we can\u2019t assume the same treatment will work for everyone.<\/p>\n \u201cThis research highlights the importance of using targeted therapies for rare ovarian tumor types, such as those with\u00a0BRAF<\/em>\u00a0mutations,\u201d Professor deFazio concluded.<\/p>\n Professor deFazio and her team are leading a longitudinal study, called INOVATe, which aims to integrate this level of precision medicine into routine care for all women with ovarian cancer.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/4-Tania-Moujaber-in-lab.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Paul-Harnett-and-Anna-deFazio.jpg\")