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David Fishman, M.D., is the Director of the National
Ovarian Cancer Early Detection Program (NOCEDP) at Northwestern University,
as well as an Associate Professor. The NOCEDP is located in Prentice Women's
Hospital and Maternity Center, 333 East Superior Street, Suite 214, Chicago,
IL 60611. For additional information, call (312) 926-8400. Dr. Fishman is
a board certified gynecologic oncologist and has written numerous peer-reviewed articles. |
National Ovarian Cancer Early Detection Program at Northwestern
The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately
24,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year. Ovarian cancer is
the 5th leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women and has the
highest mortality rate of all gynecologic cancers. The majority of women with
ovarian cancer (75%) are diagnosed after the disease has reached an advanced
stage (stage III or IV) because the symptoms of ovarian cancer are vague or
“silent”. Despite aggressive surgical intervention and new chemotherapeutic
regimens, the overall 5-year survival rate for women with advanced stage ovarian
cancer has remained constant, over the past 30 years, at approximately 15%.
Conversely, those women diagnosed with cancer confined to the ovary (stage I)
have an overall 5-year survival approaching 90%. Clearly, the need for early
detection of ovarian cancer is the best way to improve survival. The National
Ovarian Cancer Early Detection Program aims to do this.
The National Ovarian Cancer Early Detection Program,
under the direction of Dr. David A. Fishman, is a collaborative effort between
the National Cancer Institute, Northwestern University and the Robert H. Lurie
Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern. This collaborative effort integrates
the biochemical regulation of ovarian metastasis with the development of new
serum and plasma tumor markers for the early detection of ovarian cancer.
The purpose of the National Ovarian Cancer Early Detection Program (NOCEDP)
is to identify those women who are at increased risk for developing ovarian
cancer and to develop new tests, unique to the ovaries, to help detect ovarian
cancer at an early, treatable stage. The requirements to enroll in the program
include one or more of the following: a personal history of breast, colon, or
urinary cancer; one or more first degree relatives (mother, sister, daughter)
with ovarian cancer; multiple family members with either breast and/or ovarian
cancer; a personal history of a positive BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic test result;
a close relative with a positive BRCA1or BRCA2 genetic test result; and the
use of fertility drugs for more than one year.
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Created: 11/30/2000 - David Fishman, M.D.
