Written by Ingrid Gerber
An update from Dr. Suresh Nair, Physician in Chief, Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute, on research advances for women with advanced ovarian cancer
Since the launch of the MSK Alliance in 2016 and with the unwavering support of W5K, our work has focused on advancing individualized treatment options for patients facing advanced breast and gynecologic cancers—particularly when standard therapies have failed. Over the past decade, thanks to the tireless efforts of W5K volunteers and thousands of racers and walkers, this research has not only been sustained but has directly impacted patients’ lives in profound ways.
One of the most remarkable examples is the story of Linda Gemberling, who was first diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 1998. Despite her cancer spreading to the brain, Linda’s tumor underwent gene testing in 2018 through W5K funding, which opened the door to treatment with Keytruda—before FDA approval. This led to her final treatment in 2019 and an apparent cure, a rare outcome in advanced breast cancer. While Linda is now battling a secondary cancer caused by earlier radiation treatments, her story remains a testament to the life-changing impact of targeted, individualized approaches supported by the W5K community.
Another moving example comes from our recent publication in the British Medical Journal, which highlights the case of a patient diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer at age 70. Facing both resistance to chemotherapy and debilitating side effects, she was treated instead with a novel approach: first, immunotherapy to restore her immune system’s ability to fight, followed by a targeted drug (sotorosib) against a rare KRAS G12C mutation driving her cancer. This treatment, not yet FDA-approved for ovarian cancer, resulted in a complete remission—now nearly three years and counting. Even more remarkable, her kidney and nerve damage have healed, and she says she feels better than she has in years, with hopes to live to 100 like her late mother.
These are not isolated successes. To date, nine long-term survivors of advanced ovarian cancer have emerged from this new treatment strategy—an outcome that previously seemed out of reach, with typical survival measured in months after resistance set in.
The journey to this breakthrough was not straightforward. At one point, we pursued a “one-size-fits-all” clinical trial for resistant ovarian cancer, only to realize that every patient’s disease is uniquely driven by different mutations and immune challenges. This led to a new strategy: beginning with immunotherapy to reset the immune system, then following with precisely targeted treatments tailored to each patient’s cancer profile. Ongoing collaborations with Jefferson scientists are now examining how immunotherapy revives exhausted T-cells and how circulating tumor DNA can help us track responses in real time.
As research evolves, the role of AI in personalized medicine is becoming increasingly promising. With these tools, tailoring treatment at the individual level is becoming feasible, and we anticipate significant advances in the next five years—advances that are already starting here in the Lehigh Valley.
Many of the women who have benefitted from this work are understandably private after years of difficult treatment, but several have expressed willingness to share their stories—either at events like the upcoming October 4 W5K or through personal interviews. Their courage and resilience underscore why this work matters and why the support of the W5K community is so critical.
Looking forward, our team is expanding this approach into other cancers, including pancreatic cancer, with promising cancer vaccine trials already underway at Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute. These therapies, which harness the body’s own immune system against mutations, may soon extend to women’s cancers as well.
The story of W5K is one of community, compassion, and impact. Every step taken in a race, every volunteer hour, and every donation has fueled discoveries that are giving women with advanced cancers more than just treatment—they are giving them years of life, restored health, and renewed hope.