Introduction: Confronting the Silent Killer

Ovarian cancer remains one of the deadliest malignancies affecting women worldwide. Dubbed the "silent killer" due to its vague symptoms and late-stage diagnosis, it claims over 13,000 American lives annually and 300,000 globally. But at UCLA, a revolutionary shift is underway—led by Iranian-American physician-scientist Dr. Sanaz Memarzadeh and her multidisciplinary team.

Their mission? To turn ovarian cancer from a death sentence into a treatable disease.

A Survivor’s Story: Defying the Odds

In 2014, Flower Miller, a mother of three, dismissed her bloating and frequent urination as stress-related—until a CT scan revealed advanced ovarian cancer. Doctors offered grim statistics: "There’s hope," they said cautiously.

Then came Dr. Memarzadeh.

Her approach was different:
✔ Two precision surgeries
✔ Tailored chemotherapy
✔ A clear goal: lasting remission

Today, 11 years cancer-free, Miller embodies the success of UCLA’s patient-centric care.

Why Ovarian Cancer Is So Deadly

 Stealth Symptoms: Bloating, pelvic pain, and indigestion mimic benign conditions.
 Late Detection: 75% of cases are diagnosed at Stage III or IV.
 Hostile Tumor Microenvironment: Immune-suppressing cells shield tumors.
 Treatment Resistance: Only 15% respond to conventional immunotherapy.
 Funding Gap: Research budgets are 10x lower than breast cancer’s.

5 Game-Changing Innovations from UCLA

1. CAR iNKT Cells: The Dual-Army Therapy

Developed with Dr. Lili Yang, these engineered immune cells:
 Attack cancer cells directly
 Neutralize tumor-protecting microenvironments

2. Decoding Tumor Antibodies

Dr. Aaron Meyer discovered ovarian tumors produce non-functional antibodies. UCLA is now reprogramming them to reactivate immune responses.

3. The World’s Largest Ovarian Cancer Biobank

Dr. Memarzadeh’s collection of hundreds of tumor samples accelerates global research.

4. AI-Powered Treatment Predictions

Machine learning models (with Dr. Yi Xing) identify patient-specific antigens for precision immunotherapy.

5. Cross-Cancer Lessons

Insights from prostate/lung cancers (via Dr. Thomas Graeber) are being adapted to overcome treatment resistance.

Dr. Sanaz Memarzadeh: From Iran to UCLA’s Frontlines

✔ Trained under Dr. Owen Witte, a pioneer in cancer immunology.
✔ Founded the G.O. Discovery Lab—motto: "Engineering hope for women with cancer."
✔ Bridged lab research and clinical practice through unprecedented collaborations.

The Future: A World Without Ovarian Cancer Deaths

"Our goal isn’t just remission—it’s lifelong cure." — Dr. Memarzadeh

By 2030, UCLA aims to:
 Cut mortality rates by 50%
 Make immunotherapy effective for 80% of patients
 Launch early-detection blood tests