The Hormel Institute highlighted at gynecologic cancer conference

Dr. Ilana Chefetz, assistant professor and leader of the Cancer Stem Cells and Necroptosis lab at The Hormel Institute, was invited to present key research discoveries at the Gynecologic Oncology Fall Research Symposium.

The conference was held at the University of Minnesota Medical School as part of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health program and drew about 100 researchers and clinicians.

“It is exciting to work with other researchers to further novel potential targets in our quest to find answers to cure ovarian cancer,” said Chefetz, who joined The Hormel Institute in 2017.

“There is an unmet need for new therapeutic targeted therapies for this deadly disease and collaboration for new ideas is a critical part of the progress.”

Drs. Anmbreen Jamroze and Mikhail Chesnokov, scientists in Chefetz’ laboratory, also attended the conference and presented their research during the symposium.

Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system.

A woman’s risk of getting ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about one in 78. Her lifetime chance of dying from ovarian cancer is about one in 108. This cancer mainly develops in older women.

About half of the women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are 63 years or older and is more common in white women than African-American women. The rate at which women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer has been slowly falling over the past 20 years.

The symposium, hosted by the Gynecologic Oncology Translational Working Group, is part of the University of Minnesota’s Masonic Cancer Center. Translational Working Groups bring researchers from different areas together to promote innovative research and discoveries to improve patient outcomes.