A compilation of news articles in the field of gynecologic oncology and recent scientific studies

Opioid use common among cancer survivors
August 7, 2017: Healio reports: “Cancer survivors, even those 10 years or longer past diagnosis, had 1.22-times higher prescription opioid use than matched individuals without a history of cancer, according to results of a population-based study.” Read the Healio article. Read the original study.

New data address critical surgical questions in ovarian cancer
August 4, 2017: Dr. Maurie Markman discusses two abstracts presented at the 2017 ASCO meeting: LION Study (Lymphadenectomy in Ovarian Neoplasms) and Secondary Cytoreductive Surgery in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer. Watch the video or read the transcript.

Surgeons and the opioid epidemic: Treatment and education strategies for the practicing surgeon
August 2, 2017: The American College of Surgeons released a bulletin to address issues surgeons are facing regarding opioids. The bulletin includes Implicit bias and the perception of pain, opioid treatment of chronic pain, opioid management training and a general approach to improved treatment of surgical pain. Read the bulletin.

Celsion announces latest translational data from the OVATION Study in newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer patients
August 2, 2017: Nasdaq reports: “findings from the translational research data from its Phase Ib dose escalating clinical trial (the OVATION Study) combining GEN-1, the Company’s IL-12 gene-mediated immunotherapy, with the standard of care for the treatment of newly-diagnosed patients with Stage III and IV ovarian cancer who will undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by interval debulking surgery.” Read the press release.

Lower body lymphedema in patients with gynecologic cancer
August 2017: This International Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment review “focuses on secondary lymphedema due to gynecologic cancer treatment, analyzing its incidence in the different types of gynecologic cancer, diagnosis, risk factors, impact on QoL and treatment.” Read the study.

77-year-old cancer patient undergoes robotic surgery
July 31, 2017: The Times of India reports the benefits of robotic surgery and an instance in which it was used for an ovarian cancer patient. Read the article. 

Bristol-Myers Squibb, Clovis Oncology to evaluate nivolumab-rucaparib combination
July 31, 2017: Healio reports: Bristol-Myers Squibb and Clovis Oncology entered a clinical collaboration to evaluate the combination of nivolumab and rucaparib for treatment of three tumor types. The collaboration will include two pivotal phase 3 trials and one phase 2 trial designed to assess the PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab (Opdivo, Bristol-Myers Squibb) in combination with the PARP inhibitor rucaparib. Read more.

Is it possible to get pregnant after endometrial cancer? An oncologist explains
July 30, 2017: Kelly Mullen McWilliams blogs about uterine cancer and pregnancy. Read the blog.

Molecular similarities discovered among endometrial cancers
July 28, 2017: Healio reports: “Clear cell endometrial cancer appeared to have molecular similarities with serous endometrial cancer and endometrioid endometrial cancer, according to a study published in Cancer.” Read the article.

Researchers to present clinical data supporting use of Xoft System for endometrial cancer treatment at American Association of Physicists in Medicine Annual Meeting & Exhibition
July 27, 2017: EconoTimes reports: “Researchers from Miguel Servet University Hospital in Zaragoza, Spain will present preliminary findings from their recent clinical experience treating 36 endometrial cancer patients with electronic brachytherapy using the Xoft System at the AAPM meeting. The dosimetric analysis showed that electronic brachytherapy with the Xoft System delivered a lower dose of radiation to surrounding healthy organs at risk in patients with endometrial cancer, such as the bladder and rectum, than would have been delivered by treatment with Ir-192 or Co-60 sources.” Read more.

Challenges in international comparison of health care systems
July 27, 2017: The JAMA Netowrk published a “viewpoint” article on the differences between health care systems across the globe and how they can be compared despite these differences. Read the article.

Complementary cancer therapies: fatigue and exercise
July 27, 2017: Cure Today published an opinion piece on the positive impact of exercise for cancer patients and survivors. Read the article.

Olaparib tablets prolong progression-free survival in ovarian cancer
July 26, 2017: Cancer Therapy Advisor reports: “Maintenance treatment with olaparib tablets may prolong progression-free survival (PFS) without negatively affecting quality of life among patients with relapsed ovarian cancer, according to a study published in The Lancet Oncology.” Read more

How PARP inhibitors might prove useful in more than just BRCA cancers
July 26, 2017: FierceBiotech reports: “Scientists led by the University of Pennsylvania believe Lynparza may be able to kill cancer cells that don’t have the mutations—provided it’s paired with a helper compound.” Read more.

Cancer patients in chemo ward may influence each other’s survival
July 25, 2017: Reuters Health reports: “Who a cancer patient spends time with in the chemotherapy ward may have a small but significant effect on their likelihood of surviving the disease, suggests a small study in the UK.” Read the article.

Doctors receiving training in cervical cancer surgery
July 24, 2017: The Himalayan Times report that “doctors of Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital and Nepal Cancer Relief Society have been undergoing surgical training in gynecologic oncology from Health Volunteers Overseas, USA.” Read more.

Breast cancer due to non-brca1 and non-BRCA2 mutations in Ashkenazi Jewish Women
July 20, 2017: JAMA Network posts an audio file of an interview with Mary-Claire King, author of Genetic Predisposition to Breast Cancer Due to Mutations other than BRCA1 and BRCA2 Founder Alleles Among Ashkenazi Jewish Women. Listen to the interview. 

Nivolumab active in advanced gynecologic cancers
July 19, 2017: Onc Live reports: from ASCO 2017: “In phase I/II results from CheckMate-358, nivolumab (Opdivo) demonstrated clinical activity in women with recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer, and was active to a lesser extent in vaginal and vulvar cancers.” Read more.

Task force maintains recommendation against ovarian cancer screening
July 18, 2017: Drs. Maurie Markman and Richard Penson agree with the US Preventative Services Task Force advising “against screening for ovarian cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms, noting that screening does not decrease the number of deaths from ovarian cancer and may lead to women having unnecessary surgery.” Read more.

FDA ODAC recommends biosimilar bevacizumab and trastuzumab
July 18, 2017: The European Society for Medical Oncology reports the recent FDA recommendation regarding these two drugs. Read more.

Preventative mastectomies provide little survival benefit for ovarian cancer patients, study finds
July 17, 2017: Ovarian Cancer News Today reports: “Mastectomies and the removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes are considered preventive measures for women carrying BRCA genetic mutations linked to breast and ovarian cancer. But for women who have already had ovarian cancer, a risk-reducing mastectomy is not cost-effective and provides few survival benefits, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center.” Read more.

Rethinking the ASCO Resource Stratified Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines in the context of existing health infrastructure in basic settings
July 17, 2017: The Journal of Clinical Oncology publishes a response to the ASCO guideline challenging two of the recommendations the believe overlook opportunities to use existing health infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries. Read the correspondence.

With cancer screening, better safe than sorry?
July 17, 2017: The New York Times editorial discusses the risks and benefits of cancer screening as well as providing a list of US screening guidelines for different cancers. Read the article.

High-grade dysplasia increases long-term risk for HPV-related cancers
July 17, 2017: Healio.com reports: “Women maintained an increased risk for premalignancies and carcinomas of the anus, vulva, vagina and oropharynx 20 years after cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 diagnosis, according to results of a population-based study.” Read more.

Novel agent produces highest OS to date in PRmCC
July 14, 2017: Clinical Oncology reports: “Data from a multicenter trial of a novel targeted immunotherapy for the treatment of persistent/recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer (PRmCC) have yielded historic results: a 12-month overall survival (OS) of 38%, exceeding OS rates of more than 20 other clinical trials conducted in this area over nearly two decades.” Read more.

Cervical Cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up
July 13, 2017: Annals of Oncology publishes ESMO cervical cancer guidelines focusing on the management, follow-up, long term implications and survivorship as well as a new treatment algorithm. Read the guidelines.

Clinical trials are the way forward for ovarian cancer, but they need advocates at every level
July 9, 2017: Cure Today reports: “For women with ovarian cancer, the message is clear: participating in clinical trials, even early-phase ones, offers the best hope for better treatments, but efforts are urgently needed at every level to ensure that more of these research opportunities are available.” Read more.

The road ahead for ovarian cancer
July 8, 2017: Cure today reports: “Opening the 20th Annual Ovarian Cancer National Conference in Chicago, John Moroney, M.D., underscored the challenges that remain in the early detection and treatment of ovarian cancer, but also the tremendous hope that resides in robust clinical trial research.” Read the full article with more quotes from Dr. Moroney.

Incidence and prevalence of cancer in Colombia: the methodology used matters
July 6, 2017: Study published in ASCO’s Journal of Global Oncology compares real-world data from the health care system and estimates from cancer registries to determine a more precise estimation of patients with cancer in Colombia. Read the study.

Rates of pregnancy significantly lower in cancer survivors compared with general population
July 6, 2017: Oncology nurse advisor reports: A large scale population study revealed that girls and women aged 39 years and younger may be up to 38% less likely to achieve pregnancy after surviving cancer vs patients who have never had cancer. Read more.

Web-based symptom self-reporting improves survival
July 6, 2017: ClinicalOncology.com reports: “Having patients proactively report symptoms through a web-based tool improved survival in patients receiving routine outpatient chemotherapy, according to results from a Phase III trial. The approach increased median overall survival by five months compared with usual care.” Read more.

HPV triage after abnormal cervical cytology detects CIN earlier
July 5, 2017: Cancer Network reports “Women who undergo human papillomavirus (HPV) testing following a test showing abnormal cytology have earlier detection of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), compared to those who do not undergo HPV testing, according to a new study. The higher rates of detection come at the expense of increased biopsy and electrosurgical excision rates.” Read more.

Angle’s ovarian cancer test could beat current standard
July 5, 2017: “UK liquid biopsy group Angle has released trial findings that indicate its Parsortix blood test has the potential to out-perform the current standard of care in detecting ovarian cancer.” Read more.

PARP inhibitor shows promise in ovarian cancer
July 5, 2017: “Results of the ARIEL3 study of rucaparib (Rubraca) show promise for the drug’s potential in helping women with advanced ovarian cancer, according to Boulder, Colo.-based Clovis Oncology, a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in cancer treatments.” Read more.

Celsion announces completion of OVATION study and provides update on its immunotherapy trial in advanced stage III and IV ovarian cancer
July 5, 2017: GlobeNewswire reports “Celsion Corporation (NASDAQ:CLSN) today provided an update on its Phase Ib dose escalating clinical trial (the OVATION Study) combining GEN-1, the Company’s IL-12 gene-mediated immunotherapy, with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of newly-diagnosed patients with Stage III and IV ovarian cancer followed by interval debulking surgery.” Read the announcement.

FDA grants orphan drug designation to ALM201 for ovarian cancer
July 5, 2017: Healio.com announces: “ALM201 (Almac Discovery) is a therapeutic peptide developed to imitate properties of the FKBPL protein, a naturally secreted protein that has effects on multiple tumor biology processes, including cancer stem cells and angiogenesis.” Read the announcement.

Read archived news stories.

Dear Colleagues,

This year in October marks thirty years since the first IGCS Biennial Meeting which was held in Amsterdam October 4-6, 1987. I have been involved with this great society since it was formed all those years ago – I am proud of the work it has done in the past, the present commitment of the leadership and the promise the future holds. IGCS started with 370 attendees at that first meeting and has steadily grown over time. At our most recent Biennial Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal October 28-31, 2016, we brought over 2,500 gynecologic oncology professionals together from over 80 countries to share knowledge, exchange ideas and to make lasting connections.

Education, training and mentorship has always been at the heart of IGCS’s mission. IGCS brings people together at its Biennial Meetings, and previously at Regional Meetings. We now work extensively with local societies by participating in more frequent, smaller collaborative meetings across the globe. Just this year, we have participated in six such regional meetings and we plan to collaborate with several more in the near future by providing guest lecturers and/or educational forums.

IGCS has a history of facilitating education and training to doctors in regions that do not have a formal training program in gynecologic oncology. The society has provided financial support to countless scholars over the years so they could travel to a host institution to observe and receive training and mentorship. This program has transitioned into the IGCS Gynecologic Oncology Global Curriculum & Mentorship Program, a comprehensive two-year education and training program. With this new program, it is our goal to train even more doctors and have a greater positive impact on the global women’s cancer community. Fellows at pilot sites in Vietnam and Mozambique have begun the curriculum and received visits from their mentors. We are still seeking additional volunteer mentors to participate in this program and I will be sending out a survey to you soon about this.

IGCS is proud to have always welcomed and encouraged a multidisciplinary team of health care providers dedicated to the treatment of women’s cancer. Lasting connections have certainly been made among our members, primarily though attendance at Biennial Meetings. Presently, also, there is a unique opportunity for growth to carry our global community into the future. The new Strategic Alliance Partnership Program will welcome regional organizations and groups to join the IGCS as a unified cohort. Belarus has recently become a partner and we hope to see more networking among our members with this new model.

Through communication and collaboration among IGCS’s individual members, leadership, industry and partner organizations, IGCS will continue to thrive in the coming years and beyond. The newly designed IGCS website provides our members with easy access to educational resources such as the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, recordings of presentations, surgical videos and much more to come. IGCS is taking the next step in virtual connection and is currently exploring methods to allow members to discuss topics in an online social community. Meanwhile, the Education Committee is working hard to develop innovative programs to enhance our online learning opportunities.

We are currently working to create photo galleries on the new IGCS website which we will share with you all in the coming weeks. I am delighted to let you know that Professor Peter Heintz from Holland who hosted the very first meeting of IGCS 30 years ago has agreed to chair a new Archives Committee. Archives are much more than memories. They remind us of where we came from, where we have been and how far we have developed in our outreach to women.

We invite you all to share your photographs and memories to help IGCS celebrate its 30th Anniversary. We are seeking written quotes and videos from members and I ask that you please email the IGCS Communications Manager, at Debbie.leopold@igcs.org if you would like to share a quote, send photographs or record a video.

Thank you for being a member of the IGCS. We look forward to continuing our mission to enhance the care of women with gynecologic cancer worldwide through education and training and public awareness for many more years to come. It is interesting to conjecture just how the care of women with gynecological cancers will have changed in 30 years’ time. Let’s hope it will be unrecognizable!

Sincerely,

Michael Quinn, MA, MGO
2016-2018 IGCS President

Five new Education Exchange Videos have been posted in the IGCS Education Portal. Recorded at the 2016 Biennial Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, these Education Exchanges allow thought leaders in the field of gynecologic oncology to share information in a brief video format. The newly added videos can be accessed at the following links below. If you are not currently logged in to the IGCS website, you will need you username (email address) and password. Pleases email info@igcs.org if you need assistance.

• Dr. Alessandro Buda (Italy) discusses his abstract “From Conventional Radiocolloid Plus Blue Dye To Indocyanine Green (Icg): An European Multicenter Comparison Of Methods Towards The Optimization In SN Mapping Of Cervical Cancer”
• Dr. Michael Birrer (USA) speaks about whether ovarian cancer patients can be selected for anti-angiogenic therapy.
• Dr. Raimundo Correa (Chile) discusses the importance of palliative care being integrated into the multicenter care team.
• Dr. Sven Mahner (Germany) provides an overview of recent progress and game changers leading to more personalized surgical approaches
• Dr. Michael Quinn (Australia) discusses the role of the Pap smear in the follow up of endometrial and cervical cancer.

We hope you enjoy these recently added videos and take a few moments to explore the additional content within the IGCS Education Portal including surgical videos and recorded presentations from the 2014 and 2016 Biennial Meetings.

Welcome to the New Members who have joined since March, 2017!

IGCS congratulates the newly elected Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The new Director was elected on May 23, 2017 and will begin his five year term on July 1, 2017. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was previously the Minister of Health and the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Ethiopia as well as serving as Chairman of multiple health related boards. According to the WHO press release, “As Minister of Health, Ethiopia, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus led a comprehensive reform effort of the country’s health system, including the expansion of the country’s health infrastructure, creating 3,500 health centres and 16,000 health posts; expanded the health workforce by 38,000 health extension workers; and initiated financing mechanisms to expand health insurance coverage.” His accomplishments are great and are further detailed in the WHO press release.