Background: Advanced-stage tube-ovarian cancers (TOC) and uterine cancers (UC) significantly contribute to cancer mortality. While surgery achieves clinical remission in most cases, recurrence often necessitates systemic therapy. Recent molecular phenotype studies have advanced targeted therapies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Contributors to disparities and worse cervical cancer outcomes include limited education and loss to follow-up after an abnormal Pap smear. Effective interventions are necessary to engage diverse populations. The authors piloted an intervention to assess acceptability, knowledge uptake, and follow-up.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMounting effective immunity against pathogens and tumours relies on the successful metabolic programming of T cells by extracellular fatty acids. Fatty-acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5) has a key role in this process by coordinating the efficient import and trafficking of lipids that fuel mitochondrial respiration to sustain the bioenergetic requirements of protective CD8 T cells. However, the mechanisms that govern this immunometabolic axis remain unexplored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis is a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the uptake of cascade genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. Among 30 studies included for meta-analysis, the uptake of cascade genetic testing was 33% (95% CI 25%-42%), with higher uptake rates among females compared with male relatives, and among first-degree compared with second-degree relatives. These findings indicate suboptimal uptake of cascade genetic testing among people at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, representing a missed opportunity for cancer prevention and early detection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Cascade testing for hereditary cancer syndromes allows relatives to estimate cancer risk and pursue prevention and early detection strategies. The current paradigm relies on patient coordinated care, resulting in only one-third of relatives successfully completing testing. Studies suggest that team-based approaches, where clinicians facilitate testing, can increase uptake.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCervical cancer is among the most commonly diagnosed cancers in pregnancy and for some patients, abortion may be desired or recommended. The Dobbs v Jackson decision has the potential to limit choice while exacerbating disparities in cervical cancer care. We highlight the necessity of employing a reproductive justice framework to both clinical care and research for cervical cancer care in pregnancy to increase access to reproductive choice and to address inequities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIron accumulation in tumors contributes to disease progression and chemoresistance. Although targeting this process can influence various hallmarks of cancer, the immunomodulatory effects of iron chelation in the tumor microenvironment are unknown. Here, we report that treatment with deferiprone, an FDA-approved iron chelator, unleashes innate immune responses that restrain ovarian cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Gynecologic and breast cancers share several risk factors. Breast cancer risk assessment tools can identify those at elevated risk and allow for enhanced breast surveillance and chemoprevention, however such tools are underutilized. We aim to evaluate the use of routine breast cancer risk assessment in a gynecologic oncology clinic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMounting effective immunity against pathogens and tumors relies on the successful metabolic programming of T cells by extracellular fatty acids. During this process, fatty-acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5) imports lipids that fuel mitochondrial respiration and sustain the bioenergetic requirements of protective CD8 T cells. Importantly, however, the mechanisms governing this crucial immunometabolic axis remain unexplored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: HPV vaccination rates remain suboptimal despite proven efficacy. Data suggest misconceptions or lack of knowledge are leading barriers. Our study aimed to develop and pilot a novel interactive education resource designed to educate parents and patients about HPV vaccines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Most prior advance care planning (ACP) interventions lack integration of the social context of patients' ACP process, which patients indicate is critically important. The current study developed the Planning Advance Care Together (PACT) website to foster inclusion of loved ones in the ACP process.
Methods: To provide feedback about the PACT website, patients with advanced cancer ( = 11), their caregivers ( = 11), and experts ( = 10) participated in semi-structured interviews.
Purpose: Most individuals with a hereditary cancer syndrome are unaware of their genetic status to underutilization of hereditary cancer risk assessment. Chatbots, or programs that use artificial intelligence to simulate conversation, have emerged as a promising tool in health care and, more recently, as a potential tool for genetic cancer risk assessment and counseling. Here, we evaluated the existing literature on the use of chatbots in genetic cancer risk assessment and counseling.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate patient and provider experiences using telemedicine for gynecologic visits among a diverse, low-income population.
Methods: Patients attending telemedicine visits at a resident-run gynecology clinic completed a modified Telemedicine Usability Questionnaire and providers completed a survey addressing satisfaction and barriers for each visit. The Telemedicine Usability Questionnaire included six subscales to assess telemedicine usability with 1-5 Likert-scale responses.
Racial inequities within gynecologic oncology exist at every step of the cancer continuum. Although the disparities have been well described, there is a significant gap in the literature focused on eliminating inequities in gynecologic cancer outcomes. The goal of this narrative review is to highlight successful, evidence-based interventions from within and outside of gynecologic oncology that alleviate disparity, providing a call to action for further research and implementation efforts within the field.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To measure prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in a diverse gynecologic oncology patient population and evaluate how attitudes and beliefs regarding CAM relate to demographic factors.
Methods: A validated Attitudes and Beliefs about Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ABCAM) survey was distributed to patients with gynecologic malignancy. Results were evaluated using Pearson's Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables and Wilcoxon ranks sum and Kruskal-Wallace tests for non-normally distributed variables.
Purpose: To evaluate rates of familial disclosure of hereditary cancer syndrome information.
Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO no.: CRD42020134276).
Objective: Increasing evidence suggests the fallopian tube as the site of origin of BRCA1/2-associated high-grade ovarian cancers. Several ongoing trials are evaluating salpingectomy with delayed oophorectomy (RRSDO) for ovarian cancer risk reduction and patients are beginning to ask their clinicians about this surgical option. This study sought to systematically review the available literature examining patient preferences regarding RRSDO and risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) to provide clinicians with an understanding of patient values, concerns, and priorities surrounding ovarian cancer risk-reducing surgery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Approximately 1% of individuals have a hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome, however, the majority are not aware. Collecting a cancer family history (CFH) can triage patients to receive genetic testing. To rigorously assess different methods of CFH collection, we compared a web-based tool (WBT) to usual care (clinician collects CFH) in a randomized controlled trial.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLongstanding racial disparities exist in uterine cancer. There is a growing body of literature documenting differences in the prevalence, diagnosis, treatment, and tumor characteristics of uterine cancer in Black women compared with White women that significantly contribute to the outcome disparity seen between the groups. This article seeks to provide an overview of racial disparities present in uterine cancer, with attention on Black women in the USA, as well as offer a review on the multifactorial etiology of the disparities described.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCascade testing for familial cancer syndromes has historically been difficult to execute. As part of a facilitated cascade testing pathway, we evaluated barriers to completion of cascade testing. Our previously published study evaluated a facilitated cascade testing pathway whereby a genetics team facilitated at-risk relative (ARR) cascade testing through telephone genetic counseling and mailed saliva kit testing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF