WOMEN'S HEALTH UPDATENew
Diagnostic Tool For Ovarian Cancer |
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(NAPSI)-According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer is the fifth-leading cause of cancer death in women. Until recently, physicians often did not know if a woman's ovarian mass was cancerous until they performed surgery to remove and test it. Now, physicians have a new tool that assists in determining the likelihood of ovarian cancer prior to surgery: the OVA1™ Test. The OVA1 Test is the first laboratory blood test cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that can help a physician determine the likelihood--prior to surgery--that a woman's ovarian mass is caused by ovarian cancer. The test was developed by Vermillion Inc. with support from Quest Diagnostics, the world's leading diagnostic testing company. Cancer experts recommend patients with a cancerous ovarian tumor be under the care of a physician specializing in gynecological cancers. However, only one in three women with an ovarian mass is referred to these specialists. The OVA1 Test is expected to improve treatment outcomes for women with ovarian cancer by helping physicians direct patients to the most appropriate surgeon for care. "When combined with other clinical information, the OVA1 Test can help assess the likelihood that an ovarian tumor is cancerous before surgery and help physicians make decisions about a patient's care," said Frederick R. Ueland, M.D., associate professor gynecologic oncology at the University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Center and principal investigator of the prospective, multicenter OVA1 clinical trial. The OVA1 Test is available through Quest Diagnostics' network of
laboratories and patient service centers throughout the Learn more at www.QuestDiagnostics.com. |
A new medical test is expected to improve treatment outcomes for women with ovarian cancer. Word Count: 332 |
