Publications by authors named "Sarah Elizabeth Ferguson"
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to investigate the causes of mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd) in ovarian cancer by using targeted mutational and methylation sequencing on cases diagnosed between 2015 and 2018 in Ontario, Canada.
- Out of 215 ovarian cancer cases, 28 (13%) were identified as MMRd, with many associated with Lynch syndrome; molecular analysis explained the deficiency in all cases, revealing various genetic mutations and alterations.
- The custom next generation sequencing panel used in the study proved effective in identifying both hereditary and somatic changes, showing complete alignment with clinical germline testing results.
Background: We previously developed the Integrated Prediction Model using a 4-step algorithm of unresectable stage IVB, patient factors, surgical resectability, and surgical complexity to predict outcome of <1 cm cytoreduction in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer, and triaged patients to neoadjuvant chemotherapy or primary cytoreductive surgery.
Objective: To validate the Integrated Prediction Model on a retrospective cohort of patients.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 107 patients with advanced ovarian cancer treated between January 2017 and September 2018 was carried out.
Objectives: While ovarian cancer is the third most common Lynch syndrome-associated cancer in women, there is no established screening strategy to identify Lynch syndrome in this population. The objective of this study was to assess whether the 4-item brief Family History Questionnaire can be used as a screening tool to identify women with ovarian cancer at risk of Lynch syndrome.
Methods: In this prospective cohort study, participants with newly diagnosed non-serous, non-mucinous ovarian cancer completed the brief Family History Questionnaire, extended Family History Questionnaire, and had tumors assessed with immunohistochemistry for mismatch repair proteins, methylation, and microsatellite instability testing.
Objectives: Same day discharge after minimally invasive hysterectomy has been shown to be safe and feasible. We designed and implemented a quality improvement perioperative program based on early recovery after surgery principles to improve the rate of same day discharge from 30% to 75% after minimally invasive gynecologic oncology surgery over a 12 month period.
Methods: We enrolled 102 consecutive patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy at a single cancer center during a 12 month period.
Objectives: Opioids are routinely prescribed after minimally invasive gynecologic oncology surgery, with minimal data to inform the ideal dose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a restrictive opioid prescription protocol on the median morphine milligram equivalents prescribed and pain control in patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery.
Methods: A restrictive opioid prescription protocol was implemented from January through December 2020 at a single tertiary cancer center in Ontario, Canada.
Introduction: Sentinel lymph node dissection is widely used in the staging of endometrial cancer. Variation in surgical techniques potentially impacts diagnostic accuracy and oncologic outcomes, and poses barriers to the comparison of outcomes across institutions or clinical trial sites. Standardization of surgical technique and surgical quality assessment tools are critical to the conduct of clinical trials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: For synchronous endometrial and ovarian cancers, most centers rely on mismatch repair testing of the endometrial cancer to identify Lynch syndrome, and neglect the ovarian tumor site completely. We examined the mismatch repair immunohistochemistry and microsatellite instability results from the endometrium and ovary to assess discordance between the tumor sites and between tests.
Methods: 30 women with newly diagnosed synchronous endometrial and ovarian cancer were prospectively recruited from three cancer centers in Ontario, Canada.
Objectives: Minimally invasive radical hysterectomy is associated with decreased survival in patients with early cervical cancer. The objective of this study was to determine whether the use of an intra-uterine manipulator at the time of laparoscopic or robotic radical hysterectomy is associated with inferior oncologic outcomes.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out of all patients with cervical cancer (squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma) International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2009 stages IA1 (with positive lymphovascular space invasion) to IIA who underwent minimally invasive radical hysterectomy at two academic centers between January 2007 and December 2017.
Objective: The preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio has been found to be an independent prognostic indicator for perioperative complications and survival outcomes in patients undergoing oncologic surgery for several malignancies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in predicting 30-day postoperative morbidity and overall survival in advanced-stage high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients after primary surgery.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on consecutive patients who underwent primary surgery for high-grade serous ovarian cancer between January 2008 and December 2016 at a single tertiary academic institution in Toronto, Canada.
Introduction: As sentinel lymph node biopsy is evolving to an accepted standard of care, clinicians are being faced with more frequent cases of small volume nodal metastatic disease. The objective of this study is to describe the management and to measure the effect on recurrence rates of nodal micrometastasis and isolated tumor cells in patients with early stage cervical cancer at two high-volume centers.
Methods: We conducted a review of prospectively collected patients with surgically treated cervical cancer who were found to have micrometastasis or isolated tumor cells on ultrastaging of the sentinel lymph node.
Background: Patients with recurrent clear cell ovarian cancer have poor prognosis and limited effective systemic treatment options.
Objectives: To characterize patterns of recurrence and compare overall survival and post-recurrence survival parameters in patients with recurrent ovarian clear cell carcinoma.
Methods: Clinical data on patients with ovarian clear cell carcinoma between June 1995 and August 2014 were collected.
Background: There are limited data regarding the optimal management of pre-menopausal women with cervical lesions measuring 2-4 cm who desire to preserve fertility.
Primary Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of preserving fertility.
Study Hypothesis: Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy will be effective in reducing the size of the tumor and will enable fertility-sparing surgery without compromising oncologic outcome.