Like many areas in oncology, gynecologic oncology has made several important recent advances in both the prevention and the treatment of reproductive malignancies. New knowledge related to risk factors for endometrial and ovarian cancer has led to novel strategies to reduce risks through diet, contraception choices, and other factors. Important advances have also occurred in the understanding of genetic risks for gynecologic cancers and genetic testing can now identify individuals at substantial risk. Patients at genetic risk can reduce their risk through the use of oral contraception and other choices if they have not completed their families or undergo definitive prophylactic surgery when they no longer desire future pregnancies. Cervical cancer is an area of particular advancement in prevention due to cytologic screening, human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, and HPV vaccination. Globally, cervical cancer can be dramatically reduced with currently available technology. An important area in the innovative treatment of gynecologic malignancy is the application of new findings concerning the molecular biology of these cancers and utilizing new biologic therapies. Both surgical and radiation therapy have made important progress in using new technologies such as minimally invasive surgery and radiologic imaging to guide radiation treatment to maintain high cure rates while minimizing morbidity. The desire to assure that the quality of the life of patients is importantly considered in all treatment decisions has been strengthened by the increased interest and valuation of quality-of-life research in gynecologic cancer. Gynecologic oncology is strongly committed to maintaining and improving cure rates while limiting the morbidity of therapy and considering all aspects of patients’ well-being including emotional and sexual health in treatment decisions.
This issue of the Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America provides both a broad and an in-depth review of the many important advances that have occurred in gynecologic cancer in recent years. I would like to thank all of the contributors due to their scholarly and thoughtful contributions. While much progress has been made, much more progress needs to be achieved. The enclosed articles not only insightfully review current progress but also point to a better future where less women suffer from reproductive malignancy.
Genetic Risk and Gynecologic Cancers
The Epidemiology of Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer
