IJGC conversations

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Dr. Giuseppe Caruso to discuss Lymphadenectomy in Early-Stage Ovarian Cancer.

Dr. Giuseppe Caruso, MD PhD works as a consultant gynecologic oncologist at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Milan (Italy), under the mentorship of Prof. Nicoletta Colombo. He holds a PhD in “Network Oncology and Precision Medicine” from the Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome. He is a research collaborator at Mayo Clinic, Rochester (MN, USA); an honorary faculty member of the European School of Oncology (ESO) College; and a member of the European Network of Young Gynae Oncologists (ENYGO) Executive Group.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Dr. Robert Coleman to discuss Vaccine Therapy in Ovarian Cancer: Role of Gemogenovatucel-T.

Dr. Coleman completed his Obstetrics & Gynecology residency at Northwestern

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Drs. Brian M. Slomovitz and David M. Gershenson to discuss Ribociclib Plus Letrozole in Recurrent Low-Grade Serous Carcinoma of the Ovary: GOG 3026.

Dr. Slomovitz is a Gynecologic Oncologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida, and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University. He is an internationally recognized leader in gynecologic oncology clinical trials, specifically in immunotherapy and novel biomarker therapeutics. He also is a leader in sentinel lymph node detection for gynecologic malignancies.

Dr. David M. Gershenson have been engaged in several aspects of clinical and translational research of rare ovarian cancers. In the 1980s, his focus was primarily on improving therapies for patients with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors and ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors. Since the late 1980s, his research has concentrated on women with serous borderline tumors and low-grade serous ovarian cancer. In collaboration with Dr. Elvio Silva, they described the clinical course of women with serous borderline tumors and peritoneal implants, some of whom subsequently developed low-grade serous ovarian cancer. In 2004, he was part of the MD Anderson team who transformed the field by defining the binary histologic grading system for serous carcinoma, subsequently adopted by the World Health Organization. Several observational cohort studies of low-grade serous carcinoma followed, documenting the indolent nature of this rare subtype reflected in its prolonged overall survival, its relative insensitivity to chemotherapy, the efficacy of endocrine therapy in multiple clinical settings, the role of neoadjuvant therapy, the role of secondary cytoreductive surgery, the efficacy of bevacizumab, and the identification of the MAP kinase signaling pathway’s role in its pathogenesis. During that period, he was also chairing the Gynecologic Oncology Group’s Rare Tumor Committee (2005-2018), which was developing clinical trials specifically for rare ovarian cancers, including low-grade serous carcinoma. Much of this work culminated in the publication of GOG 281/LOGS, a positive randomized phase 3 clinical trials of the MEK inhibitor, trametinib, compared to physician’s choice standard of care, published in The Lancet in 2022. Additional seminal publications in 2022 included identifying mutations in the MAP kinase signaling pathway as a major prognostic factor and providing preliminary evidence that treatment with contemporary postoperative therapy may be reducing relapse rates. Finally, he is the Co-Principal Investigator of two important clinical trials to define the optimal primary adjuvant therapy (NRG-GY-019) and to determine the efficacy of letrozole plus ribociclib in women with recurrent low-grade serous carcinoma (GOG 3026).

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Lucia Ribero, Vanna Zanagnolo to discuss Single-Port Robotic Surgery: Safety and Feasibility.

Lucia Ribero, MD, is a gynecologist and postdoctoral research fellow in Gynecologic Oncology at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO) in Milan, Italy. She completed her medical training and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Cordoba, Argentina. She is currently involved in clinical and translational research in gynecologic oncology. Her main areas of interest include ovarian and endometrial cancer, surgical oncology, and translational research in a multidisciplinary setting.  

Dr. Vanna Zanagnolo is a distinguished Unit Director of Minimally-invasive and Robotic Gynecologic Cancer Surgery Unit in European Institute of Oncology (IEO) in Milan, Italy. She is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of gynecological cancers, including endometrial, ovarian, cervical, vulvar, and vaginal tumors. She specializes in providing ultra-specialist, multidisciplinary care focused on achieving optimal patient outcomes.

An alumna of the University of Brescia, Dr. Zanagnolo graduated in Medicine and Surgery and specialized in Gynecology and Obstetrics, earning cum laude honors for both degrees. Her academic and professional journey includes a prestigious research fellowship at Johns Hopkins University, where she conducted foundational studies in reproductive health. She attended the International Gyn Oncology fellowship at Ohio State University and the fellowship in Gyn Robotic Surgery at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, AZ.

With over 160 scientific publications to her name, Dr. Zanagnolo is a recognized leader in her field. She has held several prominent leadership roles and memberships in elite medical societies, notably serving as the President of the Society of European Robotic Gynaecological Surgery in 2023.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Vivek Podder and Brian M. Slomovitz to discuss GLP1-Receptor Agonists in Endometrial Cancer.

Vivek Podder, MBBS, is an oncology research fellow at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami, where he works in gynecologic oncology with a focus on translational research and clinical trials. His work spans molecular oncology, precision medicine, and outcomes research, with an emphasis on translating genomic and metabolic insights into clinically relevant treatment strategies.

Dr. Slomovitz is a Gynecologic Oncologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida, and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University. He is an internationally recognized leader in gynecologic oncology clinical trials, specifically in immunotherapy and novel biomarker therapeutics. He also is a leader in sentinel lymph node detection for gynecologic malignancies.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, the IJGC editorial fellows are joined by Dr. Mario M. Leitao, Jr.

Dr. Mario M. Leitao, Jr., MD, FACOG, FACS, is currently an Attending Surgeon in the Department of Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell Medical College. He currently serves as Program Director for the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship. Dr. Leitao is also the Director for the Minimal Access and Robotic Surgery Program in the Department of Surgery for MSKCC. Dr. Leitao is the recipient of the 2025 IGCS Excellence in Teaching Award. 

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Dr. René Pareja to discuss Topical Treatments for HPV: Fact or Flawed Science.

Dr. René Pareja is a Gynecologist and Obstetrician, graduated from Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Medellín, Colombia in 2000; he finished his training in Gynecologic Oncology in 2003, from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and Instituto Nacional de Cancerología in Bogotá, Colombia.

He is a minimally invasive surgeon, graduated from Corporación de Estudios de la Salud (CES) in 2013. He currently works at Astorga Oncology Clinic in Medellín and at National Cancer Institute in Bogotá, Colombia.

Dr. Pareja serves as a reviewer for more than 20 journals. He has authored or co-authored ten book chapters and more than 160 publications in peer-reviewed journals. Currently he is an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Gynaecological Cancer. He also serves as an international mentor for the Hospital General San Juan de Dios in Guatemala through the IGCS Global Curriculum & Mentorship Program. Some of his research has influenced how gynecologic oncologists treat cancer and has been published in important medical journals, like the New England Journal of Medicine, and Journal of Clinical Oncology.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Drs. Anne-Sophie van den Heerik and Carien Creutzberg to discuss Molecular Profile-Based Adjuvant Treatment Endometrial Cancer: PORTEC-4a.

Anne-Sophie van den Heerik, MD, is a resident in radiation oncologist at the Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. Her work focuses on the integration of molecular classification into endometrial cancer adjuvant therapy decision-making. Her recent publications includes the PORTEC-4a trial and the Cost-utility-analysis of molecular-integrated-profile for women with (high) intermediate risk endometrial cancer - PORTEC-4a an international, randomised, phase 3 trial.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Drs. Robert Wenham and Angeles Alvarez Secord to discuss Pembrolizumab and weekly paclitaxel for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

Dr. Robert Wenham is a gynecologic oncologist and Chair of the Gynecologic Oncology Program at Moffitt Cancer Center.  Dr. Wenham has a strong interest in research and is a principal investigator for numerous clinical trials to improve cancer care for women.  His research activities include the use of novel drugs for the treatment of gynecologic cancers.  He has received the Molly Cade Ovarian Cancer Research Award from the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation.  Dr. Wenham enjoys the challenge of helping women with complex issues and the opportunity to offer them cutting-edge therapies, from the latest chemotherapy approaches to biologically targeted therapies, minimally invasive surgery, and clinical trials.  He is also an expert in pelvic exenteration surgery, a very complex operation that offers hope of a possible cure for certain patients with gynecologic cancer.  Clinically, he prefers a more collaborative approach where the patient plays an active role in decisions as he guides them through the pros and cons of their options.  

Angeles Alvarez Secord, MD, MHSc, is a professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Duke University Heath System. She received her undergraduate degree with honors from Carroll College in Helena, Montana and graduated AOA with honors from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Secord completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology and her fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. Upon completing her fellowship in 2001, she joined the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Duke. She is currently Director of Gynecologic Oncology Clinical Trials, Associate Director of Clinical Research, Gynecology Oncology, and one of the Principal Investigators for NRG Oncology at the Duke Cancer Institute. Dr. Secord serves on the GOG Foundation Board of Directors. She is passionate about mentoring the next generation of investigators and serves as the GOG Foundation Education and Mentoring Chair and the NRG Oncology Investigator and Career Development Committee Vice-Chair. Dr. Secord is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and an active member of American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Gynecological & Obstetrical Society, Society of Gynecology & Oncology, and International Gynecologic Cancer Society as well as other professional organizations.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Dr. Roni Nitecki Wilke to discuss Risk-reducing Salpingectomy with Delayed Oophorectomy.

Dr. Nitecki Wilke is a gynecologic oncologist and assistant professor at the department of gynecologic oncology and reproductive medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.