Introduction

Abstract

On September 15–17, 2005, the NCI Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, the NCI Office of Centers, Training, and Resources, and the Gynecologic Oncology Group sponsored an Ovarian Cancer State of the Science Meeting in Rockville, Maryland. The concept behind this meeting was to merge the GOG translational research retreat CTEP clinical trial portfolio review/future planning, and the Ovarian SPORE future planning in order to review the state of the art in clinical ovarian cancer research. The overall goal of the meeting was to think strategically about how to advance the treatment of ovarian cancer over the next several years, including the identification of gaps in our research portfolio and emerging opportunities. The specific goals were multifaceted: improvement in phase II trial accrual, identification of activated pathways in ovarian cancer and potential new targets, identification of key translational research questions and discussion of the emerging role of intraperitoneal therapy in ovarian cancer. Critical to achieving these goals was to have all stake holders present at the meeting. The meeting had 125 participants including 50 GOG members, all Ovarian SPORE grantees (Fox Chase Cancer Center, Harvard University, University of Alabama, University of Washington, and the M.D. Anderson Cancer center), the Director's challenge recipients, and multiple prominent international ovarian cancer researchers from the Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup. In addition, consumer advocates, industrial partners, and representatives from CTEP, FDA and the Center for Cancer Research (CCR) were present.