Teresa L Pan

Tumoral programmed cell death 1 (PD1) expression in endometrial carcinoma is a prognostic marker for patient outcome

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have recently demonstrated benefit in patients with advanced and recurrent endometrial carcinoma. This retrospective study investigated immune checkpoint molecules in endometrial carcinoma as they pertain to the molecular subtypes, clinical outcomes, and predictive value. Tumoral RNA expression of genes controlling the immune checkpoint, programmed cell death 1 (PD1, encoded by Tumoral gene expression controlling the PD1 immune checkpoint, particularly expressed in "hot tumors", predicted recurrence-free, disease-specific, and overall survival in patients with endometrial carcinoma in two independent cohorts. Evaluation of these genes could be used to stratify patients who qualify for immune checkpoint inhibitors, which warrants prospective clinical trials.

Accuracy of pre-operative tumor size assessment compared to final pathology and frequency of adjuvant treatment in patients with FIGO 2018 stage IB2 cervical cancer

The primary aim of our study was to compare tumor size assessment by pre-operative evaluation (physical examination and/or imaging) with tumor size on final pathology. As a secondary outcome, we evaluated the rate of adjuvant treatment in patients who underwent radical hysterectomy whose tumor size was ≥3 cm on final pathology. Patient details were collected from three separate databases: the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Radical Hysterectomy Database, the SUCCOR Study Group Database, and the Multi-institutional Database LATAM (encompassing Latin America and Europe). Patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2018 stage IB2 cervical cancer on pre-operative evaluation (physical examination or imaging) who underwent radical hysterectomy with a therapeutic intent were included. Any histological subtype, any tumor grade, and pre-operative evaluation with clinical evaluation and/or imaging (ultrasound, MRI, CT, or PET/CT) was considered. A total of 675 patients met eligibility criteria (SUCCOR=350, LATAM=250, MD Anderson=75). The median age was 46 years (range 22-82) and the median body mass index was 25.6 kg/m Our study showed that there is a high concordance between tumor size assessment by physical examination and MRI, as well as estimates of measurement by MRI and final pathology. In addition, we noted that the majority of patients with FIGO 2018 stage IB2 received adjuvant therapy after radical hysterectomy.

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin combined with trabectedin as a treatment option in uterine sarcomas: a single-institution retrospective analysis

The use of conventional doxorubicin in combination with trabectedin leads to a considerable prolongation of progression-free survival in the treatment of uterine sarcomas but is associated with dose-limiting toxicities. Significant progression-free survival improvement was recently obtained through treatment prolongation with trabectedin single agent. We hypothesize that the therapeutic index of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin combined with trabectedin could be superior to the combination with conventional doxorubicin due to a more favorable toxicity profile. In this retrospective cohort study, the clinical outcome was analyzed in patients with advanced or recurrent uterine sarcomas with measurable disease treated with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin 30 mg/m A total of 21 patients were included in the study. In 67% (n=14) of patients, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin plus trabectedin was given as first-line treatment. One patient (5%) achieved a complete response and four (19%) a partial response, resulting in an objective response rate of 24%. Four other patients (19%) had stable disease. The median duration of the response was 14 months (range 3-74). Progression was recorded in 12 patients (57%). Median progression-free survival was 6 months (95% CI 1 to 11 months), while median overall survival was 26 months (95% CI 9 to 43 months). A median of 6 (range 1-11) cycles per patient were administered. Regarding grade ≥3 toxicity, neutropenia was recorded in 29%, thrombocytopenia in 14%, and febrile neutropenia in 19% of patients. Hematologic toxicity was the most frequent reason for dose delays (n=16) and dose reductions (n=5). Our study found an overall clinical benefit for the combination of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin plus trabectedin in metastatic uterine sarcomas of 43% and appears to exhibit a favorable toxicity profile which allows prolonged administration of this regimen.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in gynecologic surgery: hot topic debates at the 2025 ERAS World Congress

The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery pathway has transformed peri-operative care in gynecologic surgery through multi-disciplinary, evidence-based protocols. However, real-world adherence to and interpretation of specific Enhanced Recovery After Surgery elements remain heterogeneous, with ongoing discussion about their feasibility and clinical relevance. During the 2025 Enhanced Recovery After Surgery World Congress in Turin, Italy, a rapid-fire debate session addressed 4 "hot topics" in gynecologic Enhanced Recovery After Surgery implementation. Peri-operative dysglycemia is associated with worse surgical outcomes, although the evidence favors a targeted rather than universal screening strategy. Universal hemoglobin A1c testing was considered impractical, with screening recommended for patients with diabetes, obesity, or cardiovascular disease to balance safety and oncologic timeliness. Although transversus abdominis plane blocks reduce opioid use and prolong analgesia, multi-layer wound infiltration remains a pragmatic and cost-effective alternative, especially in low-resource settings where expertise or ultrasound guidance is limited. In light of the overall risk profile and low bleeding rates, many patients undergoing laparotomy for adnexal masses are likely to benefit from pharmacologic prophylaxis. Development of gynecology-specific risk models remains an unmet research priority. Structured multi-disciplinary warming bundles can significantly reduce peri-operative hypothermia, but implementation must remain flexible to accommodate different institutional resources and thresholds. The 2025 Enhanced Recovery After Surgery World Congress debates reinforced that the evolution of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery in gynecologic surgery depends less on discovering new interventions than on refining, validating, and implementing existing evidence. Individualized standardization-adapting Enhanced Recovery After Surgery principles to patient and resource variability-remains the cornerstone of enhanced recovery progress.