2005 Recipient — Amy BonDurant, MD

Amy BonDurant, MD

Chemical Changes on DNA May Be a Way to Screen for Ovarian Cancer and its Recurrence

Project Summary

Dr. French is studying whether chemical changes to the DNA of patients with ovarian cancer might offer a new approach to develop a screening test for ovarian cancer. Currently, no screening test for the early detection of ovarian cancer exists; as a result, most women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed when the disease has progressed and treatment options become limited. The chemical change Dr. French is studying is called methylation. Methylation is one way cells control the activity of genes, but its role in ovarian cancer is underexplored. In her project, Dr. French aims to identify the differences in methylation patterns in the DNA of women with and without ovarian cancer and to use these patterns for the early detection of ovarian cancer. She also hopes to characterize methylation patterns that arise during recurrence, to identify women at risk for recurrence and to find candidate genes to target for new drug development.

Bio

Philosophy of Care:

I believe what makes a great physician is not only the skill that she has, but her ability to genuinely care. I strive to be this physician every day by providing innovative, quality medicine with sincere appreciation, compassion, and respect for my patients. It is a privilege for me to care for such strong and courageous women during a difficult time in their lives.

Clinically, I enjoy all aspects of gynecologic oncology and have extensive training in minimally invasive surgery (including laparoscopy and robotics).

Personal Interests:
My husband, Matt, and I love the outdoors and believe the Northwest is the perfect place for us to explore. We love to hike, bike, boat and snowshoe whenever we get a chance. We also enjoy traveling, cooking, camping, dancing and live music. We love dogs and have had several in our life. We are thoroughly enjoying raising our daughters and try to spend time with our extended family whenever possible.

Medical School: Creighton University School of Medicine
Residency: Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Virginia Health System
Fellowship: Gynecologic Oncology: Duke University Medical Center