In rare cases, P53 mutations may be inherited. Our goal is to repair this mutation by introducing a normal P53 back into the tumor cell. A normal, non-mutated P53 gene was cloned from a normal, healthy human tissue source. The Women's Gynecological Oncology Center at UCLA offers specialized care for women with gynecologic lesions and for women with a family history of cancer who want counseling for genetic risk. In many women, by the time symptoms appear, such as upper abdominal fullness, pelvic pressure, bloating and intestinal pain, the cancer has already spread.
Ovarian cancer is more common in postmenopausal women.
The lack of effective screening techniques also complicates the early detection of ovarian cancer. Using routine ultrasound examinations has not been shown to be effective in screening for early ovarian cancer and can lead to unnecessary surgery since the ovaries by nature produce cysts. Although there is no known prevention, women who have given birth have a reduced chance of developing ovarian cancer, as do women who have taken birth control pills for at least one year, with a 50 percent reduction after five years use, adds Dr. Berek. Although 30 percent of women treated for ovarian cancer are cured using traditional chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, the remaining 70 percent face cancer recurrence. In many ovarian cancers, p53 is damaged, which interferes with its cancer-fighting abilities.