Project Summary:
Gynecologic cancers are a significant global health issue, with over 3.6 million cases and 1.3 million deaths annually, accounting for nearly 40% of all cancer cases and over 30% of cancer deaths among women worldwide. These cancers include those of the cervix, ovaries, uterus, vagina, and vulva. In 2024, more than 108,000 women in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with gynecologic cancer, and approximately 32,000 will die from it. Ovarian cancer, with an incidence of 10.6 per 100,000 from 2015 to 2019, is the deadliest gynecologic cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among U.S. women. In Wisconsin, cancer is the leading cause of death, with a mortality rate of 164.6, surpassing heart disease. Over 294,300 people in Wisconsin are living with a cancer diagnosis. Cancer also imposes significant financial burdens, costing the U.S. an estimated $173 billion in 2020(6). The Wisconsin Oncology Network highlights financial distress among cancer patients, emphasizing the urgent need for improved prevention, early detection, and effective treatment strategies.
This project aims to address these critical challenges by identifying biomarkers for early, non-invasive detection through circulating DNA, and by exploring innovative approaches to target metastasis—the leading cause of recurrence and mortality in ovarian cancer.