IJGC Podcast

IJGC Podcast

The International Journal of Gynecological Cancer (IJGC) podcast explores the latest research on detection, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of gynecologic malignancies. Enjoy interviews with leading experts as they discuss novel and relevant topics in the field of gynecologic cancer. Join Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez and his guests for an interactive and educational experience. Subscribe now or listen on your favourite podcast platform. IJGC - ijgc.bmj.com - is the official journal of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society and the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology. * The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. The content of this podcast does not constitute medical advice and it is not intended to function as a substitute for a healthcare practitioner’s judgement, patient care or treatment. The views expressed by contributors are those of the speakers. BMJ does not endorse any views or recommendations discussed or expressed on this podcast. Listeners should also be aware that professionals in the field may have different opinions. By listening to this podcast, listeners agree not to use its content as the basis for their own medical treatment or for the medical treatment of others.

  1. 19 HR AGO

    Racial and Sociodemographic Disparities with Novel Therapeutics with Drs. Anne Knisely and Nitecki Wilke

    In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Drs. Drs. Anne Knisely and Nitecki Wilke to discuss Racial and Sociodemographic Disparities with Novel Therapeutics. Dr. Knisely is a 3rd year gynecologic oncology fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is originally from the New York City area and completed her residency training in Ob/Gyn at Columbia University in 2022 where Dr. Jason Wright served as her primary research mentor. Her current research focuses on early phase clinical trials, minimal residual disease in ovarian cancer, and sociodemographic factors that affect oncologic treatment and outcomes. She is a current SGO/GOG-F BRIDGES Research Scholar. In her free time, she mostly chases around her two toddlers, Zoe (3.5) and Isaiah (2). Dr. Nitecki Wilke is a gynecologic oncologist and assistant professor at the department of gynecologic oncology and reproductive medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.   Highlights: Of the 6242 patients who met inclusion criteria and were included in the final cohort, 4.4% received a PARP inhibitor, 34% received bevacizumab, and 6% received both.  On multivariable analysis, non-Hispanic Black patients were 23% less likely than non-Hispanic white patients to receive either targeted therapy Most patients in the study were treated in the recurrent setting; we suspect that the potential barriers to guideline-concordant prescription of these therapeutics would persist in the upfront treatment setting, but future studies are required to validate this. A key area of focus to reduce disparities in access to targeted therapies should be ensuring adequate reimbursement for genetic/ biomarker testing as well as brainstorming creative solutions to expand access to genetic counseling, including the use of mainstreaming. Use of the SEER-Medicare database specifically reduces external validity of this study, but the results are nonetheless hypothesis generating and should spark conversation regarding potential inequitable receipt of PARP inhibitors and bevacizumab in advanced ovarian cancer

    27 min
  2. 21 OCT

    Surgical Complications: Impact on Surgeon with Drs. Andreas Obermair and Rachel Collings

    In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Drs. Andreas Obermair and Rachel Collings to discuss the impact of surgical complications on surgeons. Dr Obermair is an Australian-based gynaecological oncologist, researcher and leader of innovation. He is the PI of numerous investigator-initiated clinical trials and is never tired of finding more effective and less harmful ways to treat patients diagnosed with gynaecological cancer. Dr Rachel Collings is a gynaecologist and fertility specialist working in private practice in Toowoomba, Australia. She has a particular interest gynaecological surgery and doctor wellbeing.    Highlights: While patients are primarily affected by complications, surgeons are second victims when complications develop. Second victim refers to a clinician who experiences emotional trauma when complications develop. Second victims may feel shame, guilt, sadness and a crisis of confidence. In addition, second victims may develop problems with sleep, or develop musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal symptoms. Second victim syndrome is more likely if complications are severe, caused by a perceived mistake, or if the surgeon is concerned that it may attract criticism from colleagues. 89% of respondents reported having impacts on their sleep when they are involved in a surgical complication. Younger age, fewer years in practice, and female respondents had higher impacts of stress related to complications. Female surgeons reported higher levels of physical and mental health impacts and higher levels of impact on sleep compared with male surgeons.

    46 min
  3. 14 OCT

    LVSI Classification and Impact on Outcomes in Stage I Endometrial Cancer with Drs. Christian Dagher and Nadeem Abu-Rustum

    Nadeem Abu-Rustum bio: Dr. Abu-Rustum is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist who specializes in the surgical treatment of gynecologic cancers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He is also a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Abu-Rustum has a special interest in minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy) for the treatment of cancerous and noncancerous diseases of the female reproductive system, and his clinical research focuses on surgical therapy for gynecologic cancers and innovative surgical approaches to treating gynecologic disorders. Christian Dagher bio: Christian Dagher is a former research fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering, and current OBGYN resident at the University of Pennsylvania. He holds a master's degree in clinical epidemiology and health-services research from Weill-Cornel. Before moving to the US, he completed an OBGYN residency at the American University of Beirut and is interested in studying survival biomarkers in endometrial cancer.  Highlights: The 2023 FIGO staging system for endometrioid endometrial carcinomas included the extent of lymphovascular invasion as a determinant of stage. The new staging system, groups tumors with no lymphovascular space invasion and those with focal invasion (5 vessels) into one category and upstages those with substantial invasion ( 5 or more vessels). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the extent of lymphovascular invasion and oncologic outcomes in patients with stage I endometrioid endometrial cancer. This study is a retrospective analysis of 1555 patients with FIGO 2009 stage I endometrioid endometrial cancer who underwent total hysterectomy and lymph node assessment at two tertiary centers between 2012 and 2019, categorized by the extent of lymphovascular invasion (no, focal, or substantial invasion as defined by the WHO). Key findings showed that both focal and substantial lymphovascular invasion were linked to lower 5-year progression-free survival (68.7% and 70.5% for substantial and focal invasion, respectively, compared to 90.7% for no invasion). This was true even after limiting the analysis to myoinvasive grades 1 and 2.  In conclusion, focal and no lymphovascular invasion have different prognostic outcomes and should not be combined into a single category as proposed by the FIGO staging system. Focal and substantial lymphovascular invasion were not associated with distinct prognostic outcome that could support upstaging of the latter.

    34 min
  4. 23 SEPT

    Role of Chemotherapy following Chemoradiation After Radical Hysterectomy with Dr. Anuja Jhingran

    In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Dr. Anuja Jhingran to discuss the role of chemotherapy following chemoradiation after radical hysterectomy. Dr. Anuja Jhingran is a Professor of Radiation Oncology specializing in gynecologic cancers. Her clinical focus includes advanced ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers, utilizing advanced radiation techniques to reduce toxicity. Dr. Jhingran is actively involved in research with the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), serving as the national Principal Investigator for several studies. She is passionate about women's health and works internationally to improve healthcare in developing countries.   Highlights: This study assessed the impact of adding adjuvant chemotherapy to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with high-risk early-stage cervical cancer post-radical hysterectomy.  A total of 212 patients were analyzed, with 109 receiving CRT alone and 103 receiving CRT plus chemotherapy.  The 4-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 76% for the CRT group and 77% for the CRT plus chemotherapy group (HR = 1.05, 90% CI: 0.65-1.68, p = 0.56).  Overall survival (OS) rates at 4 years were 87% for CRT and 89% for the CRT plus chemotherapy arm (HR = 0.91, 90% CI: 0.49-1.69, p = 0.40).  The addition of chemotherapy did not significantly improve DFS or OS.

    16 min

About

The International Journal of Gynecological Cancer (IJGC) podcast explores the latest research on detection, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of gynecologic malignancies. Enjoy interviews with leading experts as they discuss novel and relevant topics in the field of gynecologic cancer. Join Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez and his guests for an interactive and educational experience. Subscribe now or listen on your favourite podcast platform. IJGC - ijgc.bmj.com - is the official journal of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society and the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology. * The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. The content of this podcast does not constitute medical advice and it is not intended to function as a substitute for a healthcare practitioner’s judgement, patient care or treatment. The views expressed by contributors are those of the speakers. BMJ does not endorse any views or recommendations discussed or expressed on this podcast. Listeners should also be aware that professionals in the field may have different opinions. By listening to this podcast, listeners agree not to use its content as the basis for their own medical treatment or for the medical treatment of others.

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