Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month: 2020 Immunotherapy Research Updates September 10, 2020December 14, 2022 CRI Staff Despite the many advances in surgery and chemotherapy over the last few decades, too many women are diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer too late and lost too soon. Immunotherapy is providing a promise of better outcomes and longer life. Experts believe that HPV vaccines may eliminate cervical cancer altogether in Australia within the next two decades. This September for Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, we look at new FDA approvals, new research, and how we’re working toward a future immune to ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers. Gynecologic Cancer Quiz Gynecologic Cancers Treatment Update We recently spoke with Kunle Odunsi, MD, PhD, an expert in gynecologic cancers at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. He discusses new FDA-approved treatments, promising combination therapies, exciting clinical trials, and the growing importance of biomarkers. Read interview with Dr. Odunsi Ask Your Cancer Immunotherapy Questions Join Dr. Kunle Odunsi for a special ovarian cancer breakout session at the inaugural CRI Virtual Immunotherapy Patient Summit. He’ll discuss exciting scientific and clinical research and answer your questions. This free event connects you to fellow patients and immunotherapy experts, all from the comfort and safety of your own home. Reserve your spot for free today TREATING GYNECOLOGIC CANCERS During the research update panel at the 2019 CRI Immunotherapy Patient Summit in New York City, Claire Friedman, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discussed her research on immunotherapy to treat cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancers. Ovarian Cancer Survivor Story By the time of her third recurrence, at age 39, Denise was ready for new treatment options for ovarian cancer. She enrolled in a clinical trial of a new two-step immunotherapy regimen, testing a therapeutic vaccine made from her own dendritic cells and T cell therapy. Read Denise’s Ovarian Cancer Story Ovarian Cancer Scientist Spotlight CRI Fellow Camilla Salvagno, PhD, is investigating how the stressful conditions within ovarian tumors can make immune cells dysfunctional and will see if disrupting this stress can enable the immune system to protect against ovarian cancer. Learn about Dr. Salvagno’s ovarian cancer research Immunotherapy for Ovarian Cancer Information Updated While significant advances have been made in surgical and chemo-based treatments for ovarian cancer, the survival rates have only modestly improved. New treatments are urgently needed for advanced, recurrent ovarian cancer and immunotherapy shows tremendous potential for addressing this devastating disease. VIEW Immunotherapy for Ovarian Cancer UPDATE Immunotherapy for Uterine Cancer Information Updated On September 17, 2019, the U.S. FDA granted accelerated approval to the combination of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) plus lenvatinib (Lenvima) for the treatment of a subset of patients with advanced uterine (endometrial) cancer. This is the first FDA approval specifically for uterine cancer, and the FDA, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration, and Health Canada collaborated on this review, allowing for simultaneous decisions in all three countries. VIEW Immunotherapy for Uterine Cancer UPDATE Find a Gynecologic Cancer Clinical Trial A variety of new and promising cancer immunotherapy treatments are only available to patients in clinical trials. Our Immunotherapy Clinical Trial Finder will match you to trials for which you may be eligible, and you can help speed the development of potentially lifesaving drugs for yourself and others. FIND A Cancer Clinical TRIAL Support Gynecologic Cancer Research CRI CLIP Investigator Juan R. Cubillos-Ruiz, PhD, at Weill Cornell Medical College, has found that the XBP1 protein may represent a highly promising target for immunotherapies aimed at boosting pre-existing immune responses against ovarian cancer. More recently, Dr. Cubillos-Ruiz revealed how endosplasmic reticulum stress can suppress immune responses against ovarian cancer. This Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, support lifesaving cancer immunotherapy research. DONATE to Gynecologic Cancer research Read more: Post navigation How Immunotherapy is Making an Impact in Gynecologic Cancers Read Story ESMO20 Preview: Immunotherapy Updates at the ESMO Virtual Congress 2020 Read Story
