How much are your ovaries worth? That’s the question behind the ‘Ovaries. Talk About Them.’ campaign supporting ovarian cancer research at UNSW Sydney.
The ‘Ovaries. Talk About Them.’ campaign is back for a sixth consecutive year to raise funds for an early detection test for ovarian cancer being developed at UNSW Sydney.
The CAMILLA AND MARC campaign has raised more than $2.5 million since 2019 for the UNSW Gynaecological Cancer Research Group (GCRG), which is working to develop a simple blood test that could catch ovarian cancer before it's too late.
Known as the 'silent killer', ovarian cancer is notoriously hard to detect in its early stages — by the time most are diagnosed, the cancer has spread, leaving people with limited treatment options and drastically reduced survival outcomes.
More than 310,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, largely in the later stages of the disease, and more than half die within five years of diagnosis. The number of people diagnosed is projected to rise by more than 55% by 2050, while annual deaths are expected to jump by 70%, to more than 350,000 per year.
There is currently no early detection test, and a diagnosis requires invasive procedures. But researchers at the UNSW GCRG, led by Professor Caroline Ford, have been working to change that.
"Early detection is the missing piece and we’re closer than ever to delivering it," said Prof. Ford.
Having previously discovered three DNA biomarkers which can be used to detect all major types of ovarian cancer, the team is now focused on combining them into a single, highly sensitive blood test which detects cancer DNA using a PCR test.
“When someone gets cancer, the disease is underpinned by changes in DNA,” said UNSW GCRG researcher and epigeneticist Dr Kristina Warton. “Some of that DNA ends up in the bloodstream so there is a little bit of trace, like smoke from a bushfire.”
“Our goal is to make this test successful through a simple blood draw and a PCR reaction, without a need for specialised imaging equipment or invasive medical procedures,” said Dr Warton.
“Early diagnosis, before the tumour has spread, is the most accessible and equitable path to health care for people at risk of ovarian cancer and will have life-changing impacts for people diagnosed with this disease.”
Combining the three biomarkers into a single test is the final step before progressing to clinical trials – which the team hope to start next year.
“We are now on the home stretch,” said Prof. Ford. “We are confident in our selection of ovarian cancer biomarkers and are working hard to combine them in the best way to ensure that our test is as specific and as sensitive as possible. We are optimistic that at the end of this process (multiplexing) that we will have a test that is both, sensitive in specifically detecting tiny amounts of tumour DNA.”
“We are focused in our resolve to bring this test to clinical trial by 2026 and have been meticulous and thorough in ensuring that our test has the best chance of success and will be an effective and inclusive screening option. We want this test available as soon as possible, but we also need to get it right,” said Dr Ford.
That has included investigating changes in DNA associated with endometriosis, menstruation and menopause to ensure any test developed is done so with solid knowledge of female physiology.
“We've checked the impact of periods, of endometriosis, of menopause to try to eliminate the possibility that any of these very common female life experiences will make the test work less well. It’s been quite startling along the way how little research there is overall in these areas,’ Dr Warton said.
Prof. Ford said the advocacy and support from the campaign and CAMILLA AND MARC Creative Director Camilla Freeman-Topper and CEO Marc Freeman has been instrumental to the team’s work.
It's provided much needed funding for researcher salaries and essential equipment such as a Quantitative PCR Machine, freezers for blood bio-banking and a Qubit Machine and a Liquid Handling Robot. But it’s also raised global awareness and sparked important conversations.
Ms Freeman-Topper said, “We are incredibly optimistic that the wonderfully capable team is on track to take the first early detection test to clinical trial by 2026. Now, we need everyone to show up like never before, for our mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends. If we get this across the line, we could change the future of women’s health globally.”
Mr Freeman said, “This campaign started as a personal mission — to fund a test that didn’t exist. Through the incredible commitment of our community, this dream is now within reach. We set a bold goal, but this campaign is an incredible example of what we can achieve when purpose drives business.”
This year’s ‘Ovaries. Talk About Them.’ collection features bold new slogans, including ‘How much are your ovaries worth?’ and ‘It All Begins with Ovaries’. The design is minimal and pared-back, stripping away distraction to let the message speak louder than ever.
The brand is calling on all Australians, and supporters around the world, to take part. Buy a t-shirt, donate, spread the word. And be part of a movement that will save lives. It all begins with ovaries.
CAMILLA AND MARC Ovaries. Talk About Them. launches in-store and online on August 25. As in previous years, 100% of the sale proceeds will go towards funding this research.
Support our campaign with CAMILLA AND MARC to raise awareness and funds for ovarian cancer. You can also donate directly.
For enquiries and interview requests, please contact Kate Burke, News & Content Coordinator, UNSW Medicine & Health.
Tel: +61 2 9348 2538
Email: kate.burke@unsw.edu.au