Major clinical research advances in gynecologic cancer in 2020

Abstract

In 2020 series, we summarized the major clinical research advances in gynecologic oncology with providing representative figures of the most influential study for 1 of each 3 gynecologic cancers: cervix, ovary, and uterine corpus. Review for cervical cancer covered targeted agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors, adjuvant radiation therapy or concurrent/sequential chemoradiation therapy after radical hysterectomy in early cervical cancer, radical surgery in early cervical cancer; and prevention and screening. Ovarian cancer research included studies of various combinations of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors with chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and/or vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors according to the clinical setting. For uterine corpus cancer, molecular classification upon which the decision of adjuvant treatments might be based, World Health Organization recommendation of 2-tier grading system (low grade vs. high grade), sentinel lymph node assessment and ovarian preservation in clinically early-stage endometrial cancer were reviewed. Molecular targeted agents including immune checkpoint inhibitors which showed promising anti-tumor activities in advanced/recurrent endometrial cancer were also included in this review.

Keywords: Adjuvant Chemotherapy; Adjuvant Radiotherapy; Cytoreduction Surgical Procedures; Immunotherapy; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase.