New Verastem Oncology Initiative, Let’s Talk About LGSOC, Calls Attention to Rare Form of Ovarian Cancer
March 15 2023 - 7:00AM
Business Wire
Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (LGSOC) is a
Unique and Distinct Ovarian Cancer, Requiring Tailored Resources
and Management Approach for Patients
Initiative Developed with Input from Patients,
Advocates and Physicians Provides Information and Support
Verastem Oncology, (Nasdaq: VSTM), a biopharmaceutical company
committed to advancing new medicines for patients with cancer,
today announced the launch of Let’s Talk About LGSOC, a new
initiative that calls attention to low-grade serous ovarian cancer
(LGSOC). Let’s Talk About LGSOC provides detailed information about
LGSOC and its symptoms, its differences from the more common
high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), tips and resources, and
ways to connect with others in the LGSOC community.
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LGSOC is a rare form of ovarian cancer that commonly affects
younger women with a median age at diagnosis between 45-551, and
for many, the disease and its treatment will have a long-lasting
impact on mental and physical health, including fertility and early
menopause.2,3,4 Limited treatment options are available for LGSOC
and no treatments specifically for LGSOC have been approved to
date.5
“When I was diagnosed with LGSOC, it would have been immensely
helpful to have specific information and discussion about the
disease that I could relate to,” said Tiffany Stout, who was
diagnosed in her 30s and has been living with LGSOC for eight
years. “At the time, I felt I had to do a lot of research on my own
to better understand my diagnosis, how LGSOC was different, and
what it would mean for my future. Let’s Talk About LGSOC tackles
the need for disease awareness and fosters connection amongst those
living with LGSOC and with the advocacy organizations that are
there to support us.”
LGSOC has only recently been classified as a separate disease as
compared to the more common high grade serous ovarian cancer
(HGSOC) with different epidemiology, pathology, clinical
presentation and outcomes.6 LGSOC is primarily driven by the RAS
pathway, which is a key regulator of several aspects of normal cell
growth and malignant transformation, and present in a third of all
cancers, including LGSOC.1,7 LGSOC is a serious disease that is
likely to be diagnosed when it has already spread outside of the
ovaries.8 It is relatively resistant to chemotherapy and highly
recurrent.1,9 Eighty-five percent of people with LGSOC will have
their cancer come back after remission.9 LGSOC represents 6-8% of
all ovarian cancers.1
“Low-grade serous ovarian cancer is a distinct and
under-investigated disease that warrants dedicated research and
education,” said Louis Denis, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Verastem
Oncology. “At Verastem, we are committed to help deliver new
innovative treatment options for women diagnosed with LGSOC. We are
particularly pleased to support the efforts of patient advocates
and researchers in raising overall awareness of this disease and
expand access to patient-focused information.”
“Since my LGSOC diagnosis, I have made raising awareness of
symptoms and improving outcomes for LGSOC survivors my mission,”
said Nicole Andrews, Chairman of STAAR Ovarian Cancer Foundation,
the only nonprofit in the U.S. dedicated to funding research for
LGSOC. “Efforts like Let’s Talk About LGSOC are critical to
supporting the advocacy community’s efforts in helping people with
this cancer access the information and resources they need to
understand that they are not alone. I’m grateful that this
additional resource is now available for patients and their loved
ones.”
For more information about Let’s Talk About LGSOC, please visit
LetsTalkAboutLGSOC.com.
About Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (LGSOC) Low-grade
serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) is a highly recurrent,
chemotherapy-resistant cancer, associated with slow tumor growth
and high mortality rate. Approximately 6,000 women in the U.S. and
80,000 worldwide are living with this disease. Mutations in the
KRAS gene are present in 30% of cases of LGSOC. LGSOC is most often
diagnosed in women between the ages of 45-55 years and has a median
survival of approximately ten years. The majority of patients
experience severe pain and complications as the disease progresses.
Chemotherapy is the standard of care for this disease, with limited
treatment options currently available.
About Verastem Oncology Verastem Oncology (Nasdaq: VSTM) is a
development-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to the
development and commercialization of new medicines to improve the
lives of patients diagnosed with cancer. Our pipeline is focused on
novel small molecule drugs that inhibit critical signaling pathways
in cancer that promote cancer cell survival and tumor growth,
including RAF/MEK inhibition and focal adhesion kinase (FAK)
inhibition. For more information, please visit
www.verastem.com.
1 Grisham, R. Low Grade Serous Carcinoma of the Ovary. Oncology.
2016. 30(7):650-652.
https://www.cancernetwork.com/view/low-grade-serous-carcinoma-ovary.
Accessed March 2023. 2 Key Statistics for Ovarian Cancer. American
Cancer Society.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer/about/key-statistics.
Accessed March 2023. 3 Norton, Tina R. Ovarian Cancer Patients'
Psychological Distress: The Role of Physical Impairment, Perceived
Unsupportive Family and Friend Behaviors, Perceived Control, and
Self-Esteem. APA PsycNet.
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2005-02260-003. Accessed March 2023.
4 Social & Emotional Impacts of Cancer. MD Anderson Cancer
Center.
https://www.mdanderson.org/patients-family/life-after-cancer/social-emotional-impacts.html.
Accessed March 2023. 5 Ovarian Cancer Guidelines. National
Comprehensive Cancer Network.
https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/ovarian.pdf.
Accessed March 2023. 6 Kurman RJ, Carcangiu ML, Herrington CS,
Young RH, editors. WHO Classification of Tumors of Female
Reproductive Organs, 4th ed; 2014. 7 National Cancer Institute. The
RAS Initiative.
https://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/ras. Accessed March
2023. 8 Findlay et al. The Ovary (Third Edition). 2019. Pages 1-3.
9 Corrado G, Salutari V, Palluzzi E, Distefano MG, Scambia G,
Ferrandina G. Optimizing Treatment in Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian
Cancer. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2017; 17:1147-1158. doi:
10.1080/14737140.2017.1398088.
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Media:
Lisa Buffington Corporate Communications +1 (781)
292-4205 lbuffington@verastem.com
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