Early-phase Trials Explore Novel Combinations for Ovarian Cancer
Building on recent discoveries at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center using a variety of inhibitor combinations, researchers in the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers are leading new early-phase trials for patients with ovarian cancer. “We are looking at new targeted approaches for patients with ovarian cancer, using biomarkers and other key information to identify specific patient populations that are most likely to respond to certain treatments,” said Ursula Matulonis, MD, Director of the Center’s Gynecologic Oncology Program. “Given the genetic complexity of the most common type of ovarian cancer, serous cancer, our group thinks that combination therapies as a strategy are very promising.”
Read more.
Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping Improves Staging for Endometrial Cancer
Gynecologic oncologists at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center have adopted the practice of sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping for staging in endometrial adenocarcinoma. In October 2016, Colleen M. Feltmate, MD, Director of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery for the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, presented the data from their study comparing cohorts using SLN versus selective lymphadenectomy in this patient population at the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal.
Read more.
Series Demonstrates Incidental Detection of Unknown Maternal Malignancies during Routine Plasma-based Prenatal Testing
Maternal-fetal medicine specialists at Brigham and Women’s, Hospital were contributors to research conducted by other institutions, including Tufts Medical Center, on a case series showing incidental detection of occult maternal malignancies during prenatal testing using plasma cell-free DNA sequencing. Testing was performed as part of clinical prenatal aneuploidy screening, routinely used for the initial detection of Down syndrome.
Read more.
The Impact of Nutritional Supplementation on the Metabolic Environment in Pregnant and Lactating Obese Women
In an effort to improve short- and long-term outcomes of babies and mothers impacted by maternal obesity, neonatologists in the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) Department of Pediatrics are devising strategic interventions to address metabolic dysregulation in pregnant and lactating obese women. “Obesity has become one of the most pressing public health issues of our time and is associated with increased risks for preterm birth, birth defects, and the development of significant medical conditions in childhood,” said Sarbattama Sen, MD, a neonatologist in the Department of Pediatrics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH). “We believe that the abnormal metabolic environment in obesity, which is characterized by increased inflammation and oxidative stress, may improve with tailored nutritional supplementation, thus reducing some risks posed by maternal obesity.”
Read more.
