In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Dr. Dennis Chi. Dr. Chi is the incumbent of the Ronald O. Perelman Chair in Gynecologic Surgery, Deputy Chief of the Gynecology Service, and Head of Ovarian Cancer Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).  He has been a faculty member at MSKCC since graduating from fellowship there in 1997.   Highlights: Dr. Chi discusses the evolution of gynecologic surgery and the current state of the field, talks about finding a niche in the planning of one’s career, and outlines difficulties in planning a surgical trial along with ways to overcome them.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Drs. Mario Leitao and Andreas Obermair to discuss FIGO endometrial staging. Dr. Mario Leitao is currently an Attending Surgeon in the Department of Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell Medical College. He currently serves as Program Director for the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship. Dr. Leitao is also the Director for the Minimal Access and Robotic Surgery Program in the Department of Surgery for MSKCC. Dr. Andreas Obermair is an active gynaecological oncologist in public and private practice and a Professor of Gynaecological Oncology at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. He leads the Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer Research to achieve less invasive and more effective treatments for gynaecological cancer.   Highlights: The new FIGO (staging) system is no longer a staging system to determine the extent of endometrial cancerHistology and other prognostic factors should not be part of a staging systemWe need much more investigation and validation before we can apply a molecular classification to the care of our patients and then it should not be part of a staging systemAn international staging system is likely best if kept reproducible, and if it can be applied worldwideThere is poor correlation now with this new system and the AJCC TNM system

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Drs. Cyrus Chargari and Christina Fotopoulou to discuss the ESGO/ESTRO quality indicators for radiation therapy for cervical cancer. Dr. Chargari is a radiation oncologist at Pitié Salpêtrière University Hospital – Sorbonne University, Paris, France. He is full professor of oncology and serves as the Secretary-General of the French Society of Radiation Oncology. He is an active member of ESTRO. Dr. Fotopoulou is the Chair of Gynaecological Cancer Surgery at the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London, UK. She has served as an elected ESGO council member and Chair of the ESGO and BGCS guidelines committee.   Highlights: Multidisciplinary quality indicators jointly with ESGO and ESTRO about the radiotherapeutic management of cervical cancer.The objective was to provide practitioners and administrators with quantifiable metrics for enhancing clinical care and organizational processes, particularly considering the complexities of modern radiotherapy techniques.The indicators were established through a combination of scientific evidence and expert consensus.The development process involved literature review, expert meetings, validation, and external review by clinicians.The resulting set of 19 indicators covers pre-treatment, treatment, and outcomes, and aims to standardize radiation therapy quality, with the next step being the accreditation of centers for cervical cancer management in the quality assurance process.

In this episode of the IJGC Podcast, Editorial Fellows, Giuseppe Caruso and Luigi De Vitis, discuss the contents of the September issue of IJGC.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Drs. Rachel Grisham, David Gershenson, and Brian Slomovitz to discuss "Low Grade Ovarian Cancer: The Expert Consensus".   Highlights:   A panel of experts convened in October 2022 to discuss recent scientific and clinical progress, resulting in a consensus document that provides recommendations for diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing research to improve patient care of low-grade serous ovarian cancer. Alterations affecting the MAPK pathway are frequent in low-grade serous ovarian cancer and provide prognostic information. Recent advances in the use of targeted therapy (in particular with novel MEK inhibitor and endocrine therapy regimens) have led to unprecedented response rates in patients with recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer.

In this rebroadcasted episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Dr. Mansoor Raza Mirza to discuss the RUBY Trial. Dr. Mirza is a highly qualified medical oncologist with expertise in Medical and Radiation Oncology, holding multiple degrees and licenses in these fields. He currently serves as the Chief Oncologist at the Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark, and holds the position of Medical Director of the Nordic Society of Gynaecologic Oncology-Clinical Trial Unit (NSGO-CTU). Dr. Mirza is actively involved in numerous medical societies, clinical research, and international trial collaborations, and has contributed significantly to the development of clinical protocols and guidelines for the management of various cancers.   Highlights: The phase 3 RUBY trial evaluated the combination of dostarlimab, a PD-1 inhibitor, with carboplatin and paclitaxel versus placebo, carboplatin, and paclitaxel in patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer.Interim analysis of the trial showed improved progression-free survival (PFS) in the population with mismatch repair–deficient (dMMR) endometrial cancer. The 2-year PFS rate in the dMMR population was 61.4%, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.28. Some patients treated with the dostarlimab combination showed no disease progression after 12 months of follow-up, suggesting potential cure.The dostarlimab combination also demonstrated a trend toward overall survival (OS) improvement in both the dMMR and mismatch repair–proficient (pMMR) subgroups. However, the OS data are still immature, and further follow-up is needed to determine the efficacy of the treatment.

In this rebroadcasted episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Dr. David Cibula to discuss the 2023 ESGO-ESTRO-ESP Guidelines for Cervical Cancer. Dr. Cibula is the Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the General Faculty Hospital in Prague, Professor at the First Medical Faculty of the Charles University, Chair of the Central and Eastern European Gynaecologic Oncology Group (CEEGOG), member of the Strategic group of the ENGOT (European Network for Gynaecological Oncological Trial Groups) as well as a Former ESGO president. Highlights: Multidisciplinary clinical practice guidelines developed jointly by ESGO/ESTRO/ESP in the field of gynaecological oncology, radiation oncology and pathology.Guidelines cover the management of all stages of cervical cancer, including separate sections dedicated to pathology reporting and management in pregnancy.The guidelines include recommendations, algorithms, and summaries of recent evidence published as supplements.

In this rebroadcasted episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Dr. Marie Plante to discuss the SHAPE trial. Dr. Plante has a major interest in minimally invasive surgical (MIS) approaches in the treatment of gynecologic cancers and in fertility-preserving surgery for young women with cervical cancer. She is currently leading two important international trials the SHAPE trial and the Contessa trial.    Highlights: In low-risk cervical cancer, simple hysterectomy was not inferior to radical hysterectomy.There was no difference in overall adverse events between simple and radical hysterectomy.Better quality of life and sexual function was documented with simple hysterectomy compared to radical hysterectomy.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Dr. Tadaaki Nishikawa to discuss the STATICE trial. Dr. Nishikawa worked as a gynecological oncologist for half his career and is currently working as a medical oncologist at National Cancer Center Japan. He focuses on developing new agents for GY cancers. Highlights: Trastuzumab deruxtecan demonstrated clinical activity in previously treated patients with advanced or recurrent uterine carcinosarcoma regardless of HER2 status in the STATICE trial.The overall response rates were 54.5% in the HER2-high (2+ or 3+) cohort and 70% in the HER2-low (1+) cohort, respectively.Adverse events ≥ grade 3 occurred in 61% of patients and pneumonitis or interstitial lung disease of grades 1-2 and 3 occurred in 24% and 3% of patients, respectively.We performed a co-clinical study of trastuzumab deruxtecan using patient-derived xenograft models of participants in the STATICE trial.Tumor shrinkage after trastuzumab deruxtecan administration was observed in PDX models which included two patients enrolled in the STATICE trial.

In this episode of the IJGC Podcast, Editorial Fellows, Jorge Hoegl and Guido Rey Valzacchi, discuss the contents of the August issue of IJGC

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Drs. Andrea Mariani and Ilaria Capasso to discuss isolated nodal recurrence in endometrial cancer. Dr. Mariani is a Full Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Surgery, at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is the Gynecologic Oncology Division Chair in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Mariani’s research interest is endometrial cancer with a special interest in robotic surgery. He is internationally recognized for his contributions in the advancement of surgical and postoperative treatment of endometrial cancer. Since 2019, Dr. Capasso has been employed as an OBGYN Resident at Fondazione Policlinico Agostino Gemelli (Rome, Italy), where she mainly works in the Gynecologic Oncology Unit, with a special focus on clinical and translational research in endometrial cancer. Between May 2022 and May 2023, she held the position of Visiting Research Fellow at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN, US), where she led clinical and translational research projects mainly related to AI, microbiome, and ctDNA in endometrial cancer. She currently holds the position of Research Collaborator at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN, US).  Highlights: This study aimed to analyze the clinicopathological features and outcomes of patients with endometrial cancer who experienced isolated lymphatic recurrence after lymphadenectomy, categorized by different recurrence sites and treatment approaches.The researchers retrospectively reviewed surgically treated endometrial cancer patients and identified 66 women (1.6%) with isolated lymphatic recurrence.The overall median cause-specific survival for these patients was 24 months. Survival outcomes were not significantly different among the four isolated lymphatic recurrence groups, although patients with recurrence in the para-aortic area showed better long-term survival rates higher rates of long-term survivors (patients who survived more than 5 years after the recurrence).Factors associated with improved cause-specific survival included low-grade histology and the absence of lymphovascular space invasion in the primary tumor.Moreover, patients who underwent surgical treatment with/without other associated treatments for isolated lymphatic recurrence exhibited better cause-specific survival compared to those who did not undergo surgery, even after adjusting for age.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Dr. Tadaaki Nishikawa to discuss the STATICE trial. Dr. Nishikawa worked as a gynecological oncologist for half his career and is currently working as a medical oncologist at National Cancer Center Japan. He focuses on developing new agents for GY cancers.   Highlights: Trastuzumab deruxtecan demonstrated clinical activity in previously treated patients with advanced or recurrent uterine carcinosarcoma regardless of HER2 status in the STATICE trial.The overall response rates were 54.5% in the HER2-high (2+ or 3+) cohort and 70% in the HER2-low (1+) cohort, respectively.Adverse events ≥ grade 3 occurred in 61% of patients and pneumonitis or interstitial lung disease of grades 1-2 and 3 occurred in 24% and 3% of patients, respectively.We performed a co-clinical study of trastuzumab deruxtecan using patient-derived xenograft models of participants in the STATICE trial.Tumor shrinkage after trastuzumab deruxtecan administration was observed in PDX models, which included two patients enrolled in the STATICE trial.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Drs. Mathilde Gottschau and Lene Mellemkjær to discuss BSO at benign hysterectomy. Dr. Gottschau, medical doctor and PhD, is currently working as a postdoctoral fellow at the Danish Cancer Society Research Center. The main focus of her research is gynecological cancer including breast cancer, women’s health, and epidemiology. Dr. Mellemkjær, human biologist and PhD, is a senior scientist at the Danish Cancer Society Research Center. She has extensive experience within cancer epidemiology with a special focus on breast cancer. Highlights: Results from the study by Gottschau et al., which has recently been published in Annals of Internal Medicine, support current recommendations of ovarian conservation in premenopausal women who do not have a high risk for ovarian cancer.Results also suggest a cautious approach to removing ovaries in postmenopausal women.More studies are needed to investigate other health consequences of ovarian removal, e.g., studies focusing on mental health, quality of life or osteoporosis.

In this episode of the IJGC Podcast, Editorial Fellows, Matt Wagar and Seda Şahin Aker, discuss the contents of the July issue of IJGC.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Dr. Shannon Westin to discuss the NOW trial. Dr. Westin is Professor and Center Medical Director in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. She is the co-director of the Ovarian Cancer Moon Shot and Director of Early Drug Development. Highlights: Olaparib was feasible and safe as a neoadjuvant strategy in germline mutant advanced ovarian cancer.Surgical outcomes were outstanding after only twocycles of neoadjuvant olaparib therapy.Adverse events were as expected for PARP inhibition.The NOW trial provides proof of concept for targeted therapy in lieu of chemotherapy for neoadjuvant treatment of ovarian cancer.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Professor Dr. Jiří Sláma to discuss the FERTIlity study. Dr. Sláma works as the head of the Oncogynecology Department and Colposcopy Unit at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the General University Hospital and the 1st Medical Faculty of Charles University in Prague. His main professional interest is the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer and surgical management of gynecological malignancies. Highlights: Non-radical cervical procedures (conization and simple vaginal trachelectomy) are not associated with a higher risk of recurrence in patients with HPV-associated tumors Sentinel node biopsy should be an integral part of fertility-sparing cervical cancer management.Tumor size >2 cm is a significant risk factor for recurrence.Only half of the women tried to conceive during the long follow-up period after fertility-sparing surgery.The overall fertility rate was 63% in the non-radically operated group, whereas it was 26% in women after radical trachelectomy.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Dr. Vito Andrea Capozzi to discuss SLN alone in high-risk endometrial cancer. Dr. Capozzi works at the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the University Hospital of Parma, Italy. He shows special interest in gynecologic oncology, oncologic surgery, and translational medicine. Highlights: Sentinel lymph node mapping alone in high-risk endometrial cancer patients is an oncologically safe technique over a median observational time of 31 months.No significant difference in overall survival and disease-free survival was observed between sentinel lymph node alone and Lymphadenectomy groups.Patients with histologically proven nodal metastasis had overlapping survivals and disease-free survival in the sentinel lymph node alone and lymphadenectomy groups.

In this episode of the IJGC Podcast,  Giulio Bonaldo, and Nuria Agusti discuss the contents of the 2023 special issue of IJGC in Spanish.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, the IJGC Fellows summarize three of their favorite articles for each cancer - cervical, endometrial, and ovarian - published since 2023. Listen to their discussion and thoughts about the most impactful issues from each of their favorite articles.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Dr. Marie Plante to discuss the SHAPE trial. Dr. Plante has a major interest in minimally invasive surgical (MIS) approaches in the treatment of gynecologic cancers and in fertility-preserving surgery for young women with cervical cancer. She is currently leading two important international trials the SHAPE trial and the Contessa trial. Highlights: In low-risk cervical cancer, simple hysterectomy was not inferior to radical hysterectomy.There was no difference in overall adverse events between simple and radical hysterectomy.Better quality of life and sexual function was documented with simple hysterectomy compared to radical hysterectomy.