New Verastem Oncology Initiative, Let’s Talk About LGSOC, Calls Attention to Rare Form of Ovarian Cancer

March 15, 2023 at 07:00 AM EDT

Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (LGSOC) is a Unique and Distinct Ovarian Cancer, Requiring Tailored Resources and Management Approach for Patients

Initiative Developed with Input from Patients, Advocates and Physicians Provides Information and Support

Verastem Oncology, (Nasdaq: VSTM), a biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing new medicines for patients with cancer, today announced the launch of Let’s Talk About LGSOC, a new initiative that calls attention to low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC). Let’s Talk About LGSOC provides detailed information about LGSOC and its symptoms, its differences from the more common high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), tips and resources, and ways to connect with others in the LGSOC community.

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LGSOC is a rare form of ovarian cancer that commonly affects younger women with a median age at diagnosis between 45-55¹, and for many, the disease and its treatment will have a long-lasting impact on mental and physical health, including fertility and early menopause.^2,3,4 Limited treatment options are available for LGSOC and no treatments specifically for LGSOC have been approved to date.⁵

“When I was diagnosed with LGSOC, it would have been immensely helpful to have specific information and discussion about the disease that I could relate to,” said Tiffany Stout, who was diagnosed in her 30s and has been living with LGSOC for eight years. “At the time, I felt I had to do a lot of research on my own to better understand my diagnosis, how LGSOC was different, and what it would mean for my future. Let’s Talk About LGSOC tackles the need for disease awareness and fosters connection amongst those living with LGSOC and with the advocacy organizations that are there to support us.”

LGSOC has only recently been classified as a separate disease as compared to the more common high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) with different epidemiology, pathology, clinical presentation and outcomes.⁶ LGSOC is primarily driven by the RAS pathway, which is a key regulator of several aspects of normal cell growth and malignant transformation, and present in a third of all cancers, including LGSOC.^1,7 LGSOC is a serious disease that is likely to be diagnosed when it has already spread outside of the ovaries.⁸ It is relatively resistant to chemotherapy and highly recurrent.^1,9 Eighty-five percent of people with LGSOC will have their cancer come back after remission.⁹ LGSOC represents 6-8% of all ovarian cancers.¹

“Low-grade serous ovarian cancer is a distinct and under-investigated disease that warrants dedicated research and education,” said Louis Denis, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Verastem Oncology. “At Verastem, we are committed to help deliver new innovative treatment options for women diagnosed with LGSOC. We are particularly pleased to support the efforts of patient advocates and researchers in raising overall awareness of this disease and expand access to patient-focused information.”

“Since my LGSOC diagnosis, I have made raising awareness of symptoms and improving outcomes for LGSOC survivors my mission,” said Nicole Andrews, Chairman of STAAR Ovarian Cancer Foundation, the only nonprofit in the U.S. dedicated to funding research for LGSOC. “Efforts like Let’s Talk About LGSOC are critical to supporting the advocacy community’s efforts in helping people with this cancer access the information and resources they need to understand that they are not alone. I’m grateful that this additional resource is now available for patients and their loved ones.”

For more information about Let’s Talk About LGSOC, please visit LetsTalkAboutLGSOC.com.

About Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (LGSOC)

Low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) is a highly recurrent, chemotherapy-resistant cancer, associated with slow tumor growth and high mortality rate. Approximately 6,000 women in the U.S. and 80,000 worldwide are living with this disease. Mutations in the KRAS gene are present in 30% of cases of LGSOC. LGSOC is most often diagnosed in women between the ages of 45-55 years and has a median survival of approximately ten years. The majority of patients experience severe pain and complications as the disease progresses. Chemotherapy is the standard of care for this disease, with limited treatment options currently available.

About Verastem Oncology

Verastem Oncology (Nasdaq: VSTM) is a development-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to the development and commercialization of new medicines to improve the lives of patients diagnosed with cancer. Our pipeline is focused on novel small molecule drugs that inhibit critical signaling pathways in cancer that promote cancer cell survival and tumor growth, including RAF/MEK inhibition and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibition. For more information, please visit www.verastem.com.

¹ Grisham, R. Low Grade Serous Carcinoma of the Ovary. Oncology. 2016. 30(7):650-652. https://www.cancernetwork.com/view/low-grade-serous-carcinoma-ovary. Accessed March 2023.

² Key Statistics for Ovarian Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer/about/key-statistics. Accessed March 2023.

³ Norton, Tina R. Ovarian Cancer Patients' Psychological Distress: The Role of Physical Impairment, Perceived Unsupportive Family and Friend Behaviors, Perceived Control, and Self-Esteem. APA PsycNet. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2005-02260-003. Accessed March 2023.

⁴ Social & Emotional Impacts of Cancer. MD Anderson Cancer Center. https://www.mdanderson.org/patients-family/life-after-cancer/social-emotional-impacts.html. Accessed March 2023.

⁵ Ovarian Cancer Guidelines. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/ovarian.pdf. Accessed March 2023.

⁶ Kurman RJ, Carcangiu ML, Herrington CS, Young RH, editors. WHO Classification of Tumors of Female Reproductive Organs, 4th ed; 2014.

⁷ National Cancer Institute. The RAS Initiative. https://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/ras. Accessed March 2023.

⁸ Findlay et al. The Ovary (Third Edition). 2019. Pages 1-3.

⁹ Corrado G, Salutari V, Palluzzi E, Distefano MG, Scambia G, Ferrandina G. Optimizing Treatment in Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian Cancer. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2017; 17:1147-1158. doi: 10.1080/14737140.2017.1398088.