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1998 Recipient — Molly Brewer, DVM, MD, MS

Molly Brewer, DVM, MD, MS

How Might Chemopreventive Agents Against Ovarian Cancer Work

Project Summary

Multiple studies have demonstrated that Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCP) reduce a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer. Using OCPs for five years reduced the risk of ovarian cancer by 50 percent. The molecule fenretinide might also have a similar preventive effect. With OCRF’s support, investigators at M.D. Anderson are investigating the mechanisms underlying the chemopreventive activity of these agents. M.D. Anderson’s research project concentrates on three areas: 1) the spectroscopic changes seen in the surface and subsurface of normal and malignant ovaries 2) the effects of chemopreventive agents on primate ovary, and 3) the effects of the female hormones, progestin and estrogen, and fenretinide on normal and immortalized ovarian surface epithelial cells.

Areas of Research:

Bio

Professor and Chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of CT Health Center

Dr. Molly Brewer is Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of CT Health Center. She completed medical school at SUNY Syracuse after being in practice as a veterinarian for 8 years. She did her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland Oregon, a Galloway fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital and a Gynecologic Oncology fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Following Dr. Brewer’s fellowship, she stayed on the faculty at MDACC for 4 years and completed an MS in the OJOC Program at the University Of Michigan School Of Public Health in Statistics and Clinical Research Design.

Dr. Brewer was a faculty member at the Arizona Cancer Center where she worked with optical scientists and biomedical engineers to develop optical technology to interrogate the ovary for early cancer. Her other research and clinical interests include prevention of ovarian/breast cancer and evaluation of women at risk for cancer.