Specialized Gynecologic Oncologists (Sponsored)

Sponsor content from Moffitt Cancer Center

The gynecologic oncology clinic at Moffitt Cancer Center offers a full range of services, including a robust clinical trials program and treatment options that can often preserve fertility. As the only Florida-based National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Moffitt provides its patients access to the latest and most groundbreaking treatment opportunities for gynecologic cancers.

Led by Dr. Robert Wenham, the gynecologic oncologists at Moffitt are nationally recognized leaders in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancers affecting the female reproductive system. They have not only undergone rigorous training in their specialized area of focus but are also experienced as both surgeons and medical oncologists. Therefore, an entire treatment plan can be overseen by the same gynecologic oncologist to provide each patient with a high level of personalized care. The team also spearheads ambitious research initiatives that allow patients to receive emerging new therapies before those options are made widely available.

Research and breakthroughs in gynecologic oncology at Moffitt

Currently, doctors and researchers at Moffitt are exploring ways to harness the body's immune system to better fight gynecologic cancers. Known as immunotherapy, this novel treatment is designed to stimulate the body's immune system to target cancer cells.

"There's a limit to how far we can advance the treatment of cancer with chemotherapy, but with immunotherapy there isn't a limit," said Dr. Wenham. The team is actively participating in a number of immunotherapy trials involving checkpoint inhibitors, vaccine therapy and cellular therapy for ovarian, cervical and endometrial cancers.

Moffitt researchers are equally as passionate about cancer prevention. In December 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine that protects against nine types of human papillomavirus (HPV) with the potential to increase overall cervical cancer prevention from 70 to 90 percent, nearly eliminating this cancer altogether. The leader of these efforts at Moffitt, researcher Anna Giuliano, PhD, recently led a national initiative that resulted in all 70 National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers coming together to endorse a goal of eliminating HPV-related cancer in the U.S., beginning with cervical cancer.

Moffitt researcher Shelley Tworoger, PhD, also recently co-led a study that found that taking a low-dose aspirin daily may help women lower their risk of developing ovarian cancer. The study found that women who reported taking a low-dose aspirin every day had a 23 percent lower risk of ovarian cancer compared to non-aspirin users.

"We're not quite at the stage where we could make the recommendation that daily aspirin use lowers ovarian cancer risk. We need to do more research. But it is definitely something women should discuss with their physician," said Tworoger.

At Moffitt, personalized medicine drives what we do in treatment and in research for gynecologic cancers. As a result, Moffitt's trusted specialists have dedicated their entire careers to researching, understanding and providing outstanding medical treatment and cancer prevention.

For more information on Moffitt Cancer Center, visit Moffitt.org.

WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.