The Cheryl Brown Outcomes Unit

Named in recognition of the late Cheryl Brown, a tireless advocate for ovarian cancer patients, this unit is located at the British Columbia Cancer Agency and is led by Drs. Nhu Le, Anna Tinker, and Kenneth Swenerton. The Unit’s initial tactic was to identify and record treatment and outcomes data for those women referred to the BCCA for management of their ovarian cancers in the years 1984-2003.  From this effort, the Gynaecologic Tissue Bank was able to obtain tumour samples collected at the time of diagnosis and at the time of relapse. The tissue microarrays are only valuable if accompanied by the clinical data supplied by the Outcomes Unit.  It is our hope that this unique opportunity that is available to us in BC, namely the ability to integrate comprehensive treatment and outcomes data with corresponding tissue specimens, will enable researchers to identify indicators of tumour behaviour and to guide successful treatment.

To date, the Outcomes Unit has recorded data on approximately 3400 surface epithelial ovarian carcinomas over the past 25 years. Additionally, it has contributed to over 40 research projects and is in the process of developing a prospective data collection tool.  Researchers requesting more information may contact the Cheryl Brown Ovarian Cancer Outcomes Unit Coordinator, Jennifer Santos, R.N.