In this episode of the Oncology Brothers podcast, Drs. Rohit & Rahul Gosain had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Shannon Westin, a Professor of Gynecology, Oncology, and Reproductive Medicine at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. We delved into the rapidly evolving field of gynecologic oncology, specifically focusing on endometrial cancer.
Dr. Westin began by discussing the various histologies of endometrial cancer, highlighting the most common types, including endometrioid, serous, clear cell, and carcinosarcoma. She emphasized the shift from histology-driven care to a more molecularly driven approach, particularly the importance of identifying mutations such as p53 and their implications for treatment.
We explored the workup for newly diagnosed endometrial cancer patients, noting that while early-stage, low-grade tumors often require minimal imaging, higher-grade tumors necessitate more extensive evaluation. Dr. Westin shared insights on the decision-making process for adjuvant treatments, emphasizing the role of surgical intervention and the potential for neoadjuvant therapies in advanced cases.
A significant portion of our discussion centered around the integration of immunotherapy and chemotherapy in treating advanced endometrial cancer. Dr. Westin highlighted the importance of biomarkers, particularly mismatch repair deficiency, in guiding treatment decisions and the exciting developments in combining checkpoint inhibitors with traditional chemotherapy.
We also touched on the emerging role of PARP inhibitors and the potential for their use in conjunction with immunotherapy, as well as the importance of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in identifying actionable mutations. Dr. Westin provided valuable insights into the current landscape of clinical trials and the future directions of treatment for endometrial cancer.
Finally, we discussed the recent advancements in targeted therapies, including HER2-positive treatments like trastuzumab deruxtecan (TDXd) and the significance of NTRK fusions, although the latter remains rare in endometrial cancer.
Overall, this episode provided a comprehensive overview of the current standard of care for endometrial cancer, emphasizing the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and the ongoing evolution of treatment strategies in this field. We hope you find this discussion informative and engaging as we continue to explore the complexities of oncology.
