Mentor's Podcast: Mario M. Leitao, Jr.

Lymphadenectomy in Early-Stage Ovarian Cancer

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 [https://www.international-journal-of-gynecological-cancer.com/article/S1048-891X(26)00085-X/abstract].   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.

Vaccine Therapy in Ovarian Cancer: Role of Gemogenovatucel-T

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 University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, and completed his fellowship at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in 1993. From 1993-1996, he served as Assistant Professor at Creighton University followed by service as Vice-Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Coleman joined as Faculty at MD Anderson Cancer center in 2004 and served as Professor and Executive Director for Cancer Network Research, holding the Ann Rife Cox Chair in Gynecology. In March 2020, he joined US Oncology Research (USOR) as Chief Scientific Officer and served briefly as Chief Medical Officer for Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI). He practices at Texas Oncology, US Oncology Network and currently serves as Chief Medical officer for Vaniam Group. He also serves as Vice President, GOG Foundation and is Special Advisor to the President for GOG Partners. Dr. Coleman has authored or coauthored over 800 scientific publications, including over 500 peer-reviewed articles, along with numerous book chapters, monographs, invited articles, and textbooks. He was the 2019 APGO-CREOG awardee for Excellence in Teaching. He serves as Vice President of GOG-Foundation, Inc. He served as President of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO, 2015-2016) and President of International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS, 2020-2022). He was inducted into MJH Life Sciences™ 2020 class of “Giants in Cancer Care®.”

Ribociclib Plus Letrozole in Recurrent Low-Grade Serous Carcinoma of the Ovary: GOG 3026

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).

Single-Port Robotic Surgery: Safety and Feasibility

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.

GLP1-Receptor Agonists in Endometrial Cancer

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. His research focuses on obesity-associated cancers and the role of metabolic pathways in cancer progression and treatment response, including the potential application of GLP-1 receptor agonists in oncology. He has also contributed to molecular classification and therapeutic stratification in endometrial cancer, including work on homologous recombination deficiency, as well as immunotherapy rechallenge and chemotherapy-free treatment strategies in low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. His work reflects a consistent effort to translate biological insights into clinical practice. Dr. Podder has authored over 120 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and conference abstracts, along with more than 200 evidence summaries, with over 33,500 citations. He has presented his work at major international oncology meetings, including ASCO, ESMO, and SNO. He has contributed to five editions of the First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK series, widely regarded as essential resources for medical trainees, and serves as an associate editor and peer reviewer for several leading journals. His work has been recognized internationally, including selection to Stanford University’s list of the world’s top 2% scientists.   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.