# U.T. M. D. Anderson Cancer Center SPORE in Ovarian Cancer

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2021 · $1,686,672

## Abstract

Overall SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The overall goal of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) Ovarian Cancer SPORE is
to improve outcomes for ovarian cancer patients by combining targeted agents based upon the molecular,
cellular and clinical biology of their disease and understanding and targeting mechanisms of drug resistance.
Over the last 6 years (FY2009-FY2015), MDACC has cared for 4,483 patients with ovarian, fallopian tube and
peritoneal cancers. MDACC has given high priority to ovarian cancer research through recruitment, salary
support, clinical facilities, laboratory space, and philanthropic funds. Over the last 6 years, MDACC has
recruited six outstanding faculty members with an interest in ovarian cancer research (Drs. Amir Jazaeri,
Larissa Meyer, Alpa Nick, Shannon Westin, Melinda Yates, and Behrouz Zand). Philanthropic support of the
Women’s Cancer Breast-Ovarian Moon Shot has provided organization and infrastructure. Over the same time
period, our previous SPORE funded 15 Developmental Research Projects (DRPs), and supported six Career
Enhancement Program (CEP) awardees, and SPORE investigators have contributed 461 peer-reviewed
papers pertaining to ovarian cancer with 53% (246) IF >5 and 20% (92) >10. Achievements included:
1) evaluation of a two stage screening strategy with a positive predictive value of >30% for detecting stage
I-II disease in 9 of 12 cases detected; 2) identification of biomarkers that detect 18% of CA125 negative cases;
3) development of a point-of-service nanoassay for these biomarkers; 4) discovery that anti-TP53
autoantibodies rise 5 (median) -13 months (mean) prior to CA125, the first biomarker to provide earlier
detection than CA125; 4) observation of a 54% objective response rate to anti-angiogenic therapy with
aflibercept and docetaxel; 5) initiation of a trial targeting Dll4 and notch; 6 ) CSF1R inhibitors could deplete
macrophages and reduce resistance to anti-VEGF Therapy 7) demonstration of significant activity of the MEK
inhibitor selumetinib in low-grade ovarian cancers and initiation of an international phase III trial of
another potent MEK inhibitor trametinib; 8) development of a robust biomarker panel that predicts response to
PARP inhibitors (PARPi) and initiation of multiple trials combining PI3K and PARP inhibitors in high-grade
ovarian cancer; and 9) use of mesenchymal stem cells to deliver interferon to ovarian cancers. I n t h i s new
SPORE application, 4 projects will strive to: 1) validate predictive biomarkers and implement rational
combination therapy with PARP inhibitors designed to overcome pre- existing and adaptive resistance; 2)
validate predictive biomarkers and implement rational combination therapy with MEK inhibitor for low-grade
ovarian serous cancers to overcome resistance; 3) target macrophages to overcome resistance to anti-VEGF
therapies; and 4) evaluate a novel SIK2 inhibitor in a Phase IA/B trial and identify agents that produce synthetic
lethality.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10251109
- **Project number:** 5P50CA217685-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT C BAST
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,686,672
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-22 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10251109

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10251109, U.T. M. D. Anderson Cancer Center SPORE in Ovarian Cancer (5P50CA217685-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10251109. Licensed CC0.

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