Immunotherapy Research Advances Endometrial Cancer Care
Hackensack University Medical Center gynecologic medical oncologists are conducting research on promising targeted treatments that can be used alongside chemotherapy to treat endometrial cancers.
“Antibody drug conjugates have been helpful in treating gynecologic malignancies in patients who do not respond to other therapies,” said Deena Mary Atieh Graham, M.D., gynecologic and breast medical oncologist at Hackensack University Medical Center. “We test all patients with endometrial cancer for HER2 overexpression and are studying whether we can offer treatment upfront for these patients, including those who have uterine serous cancers.”
Dr. Graham and her team are participating in a multicenter clinical trial through NRG Oncology, a national cancer research consortium, to study progression free survival and overall survival of treatment regimens that combine chemotherapy and immunotherapy when compared to standard-of-care treatment.
Further, the team is participating in national, multi-institutional research to identify specific “oncosignatures” in endometrial tumor tissue and determine the efficacy of a regimen of either chemotherapy medication gemcitabine alone, or in combination with targeted therapy.
“We are looking at new ways to identify patients who could benefit from targeted treatment through specialized testing and profiling of endometrial cancers — so we can personalize and tailor therapies appropriately,” said Dr. Graham. “Patients whose endometrial cancer progresses after prior lines of therapy often have limited treatment options, so we are studying novel combination therapies that have the potential to improve quality and quantity of life.”
Click here for more information on Hackensack Meridian Health’s Gynecology program.
