Current Activity

Recognising that there have been certain changes in the management of women with ovarian cancer since our first patients were enrolled in the early 2000's, in early 2017 we commenced AOCSII, a broad-based recruitment of women with invasive epithelial ovarian cancer across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. We are building on our extensive experience to develop ovarian cancer research resources with linked clinical information that can serve the needs of clinicians and researchers. Our aims are to continue to help advance our understanding of ovarian cancer and help lessen the burden of this disease in the wider community through better treatment options and more sophisticated diagnostic tests. With renewed participant enrolment we will not only increase numbers of cases and biospecimens available for research, but also create a cohort exposed to newer treatment agents and regimens.

The project structure parallels the operation of AOCS, which has provided samples and data to over 120 approved projects nationally and internationally, and enabled over 241 publications.

In total, an estimated 1,580 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Australia in 2017¹. Based on our previous study, we conservatively estimate that a minimum of 600 women will be eligible and agree to take part in the study.

Eligible participants are women living in Australia who are over the age of 18, with newly diagnosed or recurrent non-mucinous epithelial ovarian, peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer. Participants will be identified through an existing network of gynaecological oncologists covering the eastern states of Australia (QLD, NSW, VIC, TAS) and approached by trained research staff as soon as possible after diagnosis. With their informed consent, participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire, donate a small sample of blood and give permission to access surplus tissue taken at diagnosis and information held within their medical record.

We are acutely aware that behind every individual enrolled in the study is a woman and her family, friends and colleagues, and we understand the urgency required to improve her situation. We believe that AOCS will continue to make important inroads to improving the outlook for ovarian cancer patients with the help of our collaborators and our participants in this landmark study.

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2017. Cancer in Australia 2017. Cancer series no.100. Cat. no. CAN 100. Canberra: AIHW