Wednesday, April 11, 2018

SGO Annual Meeting Research Review and Ask the Doc April 2018

Twenty-four participants shared what they had learned at the SGO Annual Meeting or asked questions about research presented at the meeting during this month's #gyncsm chat. You may find more analytics here. You may find a transcript from the chat here.

We covered a number of different research areas from treatments to survivorship to funding for research.

T1: What were the results of the study comparing minimally invasive surgery (MIS) w/ radical hysterectomy in early cervical cancer. Will the results change practice?

  • "Disease-free survival following minimally invasive procedures significantly lagged behind radical hysterectomies done by open laparotomy," -Pedro T. Ramirez, MD. I found this fascinating.
    • some suggested uterine manipulator use (not assessed in the study), also discussed immature data, early stopping.
    • Any reasons would be speculation. But I think we get bigger tissue margins with open surgery
    • data safety monitoring committee (filled with GYN ONCS) said the study should be stopped
T2: Several studies used targeted therapies to treat #ovariancancer - Which results stood out for you? Were side effects critical in any of the studies?
  • The #PARPi combinations are very exciting - responses and improved outcomes regardless of #BRCA status are encouraging
  • From our Scientific Director, Dr. Deb Zajchowski, “Exciting preliminary results for PARP inhibitors combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors — particularly in platinum-resistant patients.” (@ClearityFnd) 
T3: Which studies presented at the meeting will impact treatment of women with #endometrialcancer #uterinecancer #sarcoma?

  • The combo of everolimus & letrozole was quite successful in #endometrialcancer - this is the 2nd study to demonstrate this
  • Excited re our study (in rodents) of everolimus-eluting IUD pres by @JDottinoMD - could allow pts to avoid surgery in endo ca


  • My friend Matt Anderson, MD, PhD, presented on the genomic profiling of #uterine #leiomyosarcoma from The Cancer Genome Atlas as well as his own lab in Baylor. Data from @ALazarMDPhD was included. This is bigly important for us
  • I was not at SGO but results from the phase 2 trial looking at carbo/taxol vs carbo/tax + trastuzimab (herceptin) in uterine serous CA with Her2/neu overexpression were presented. Improved PFS w/addition of herceptin.
    • Agree... exciting abstract. Several pre-analytical issues that can affect Her2 testing results which will be important to consider for the future
T4: What research on palliative care and survivorship do you think will impact patients lives the most - or that survivors should ask their gyn/onc's about?

  • There was a study that finally measured and estimated rates of post op lymphedema which were much higher than anticipated. If we can measure it we can look for ways to reduce it. 
  •  Overall, I think it has been great to see an increase each year in survivorship studies and talk of long-term care planning and navigators/coordinators. Patients living longer and more emphasis on support.
T5: Once again studies showed less gyn cancer clinical trials and lower funding for gyn cancer research. What suggestions were made to increase enrollment and funding?
  • We MUST advocate for gynecologic cancer funding - write your Congressman and tell them that this funding must be INCREASED!!
  • the photo in this tweet shows how great the need is via @ShannonWestin
  • Outcomes are better for minorities who have access to #clinicaltrials - we need funding to ensure these trials are available 
    • I thought this was an important study. #clinicaltrials are an important part of cancer care. Many in general population still think trials are last resort and consider them "experimental" in a very negative risky way.
  • From our Scientific Director, Dr. Deb Zajchowski, “We need more funding. We also need to get the word out to enroll in the many clinical trials that are already available. There are more than 300 #clinicaltrials that #ovariancancer patients can enter.”
We have several questions/thoughts out there - feel free to now add any additional tweets re: the latest gynecologic cancer research.
  • Here is a link to a study reported at SGO on a vaccine to prevent recurrence in OC https://t.co/phQx2osDcN
  • Can you please tell us a little more about check point inhibitors and what that they’re used for in regards to #Lynchsyndrome cancers
    • Right now - they are FDA approved for any tumor that has MSI (microsatellite instability) - that includes Lynch Syndrome assoc tumors
    • Essentially the MMR in LS makes the cells more susceptible to attack by the immune cells. The checkpoint inhibitors allow the immune system to be more effective.
  • Still on #uterine #leiomyosarcoma: I'm glad the #sarcoma med oncs talked about the many lines of chemo -- I can think of at least 6 -- they might give. Some gyn oncs offer fewer
  • I was very surprised that chemo for early stage endometrial Cancer didn’t improve outcomes. Especially after last years ASCO when it was discussed that it may replace radiation.
  • Great video to share (from SGO) on clinical trial basics! https://t.co/UWjBqxQ584
  • There was a study that finally measured and estimated rates of post op lymphedema which were much higher than anticipate…
Additional resources mentioned during the chat may be found below. 

Patients and caregivers are invited to continue our discussion on the Smart Patients platform at  https://www.smartpatients.com/partners/gyncsm

Join us next month on Wednesday May 9,2018 at 9pm ET for our chat on Palliative Care - When and Why? with guest Christian Sinclair @ctsinclair (#hpm). 

See you then, 

Dee
#gyncsm Co-founder


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