Featured Publications
Laparoscopic pancreatic peritonectomy with splenectomy for recurrent ovarian cancer: a novel approach to achieve R0 while preserving the pancreatic body and tail
Vlamis C, Abozenah Y, Pebley N, Chang Y, McNamara B, Altwerger G. Laparoscopic pancreatic peritonectomy with splenectomy for recurrent ovarian cancer: a novel approach to achieve R0 while preserving the pancreatic body and tail. International Journal Of Gynecological Cancer 2024, 34: 1474-1475. PMID: 38724238, DOI: 10.1136/ijgc-2024-005358.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHarnessing the effects of hypoxia-like inhibition on homology-directed DNA repair
Altwerger G, Ghazarian M, Glazer P. Harnessing the effects of hypoxia-like inhibition on homology-directed DNA repair. Seminars In Cancer Biology 2023, 98: 11-18. PMID: 38029867, PMCID: PMC10872265, DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.11.007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConventional laparoscopic resection of platinum-sensitive recurrent oligometastatic ovarian cancer lesion in the interaortocaval region
Abozenah Y, Vlamis C, Ghazarian M, Harold J, Tymon-Rosario J, Altwerger G. Conventional laparoscopic resection of platinum-sensitive recurrent oligometastatic ovarian cancer lesion in the interaortocaval region. International Journal Of Gynecological Cancer 2024, 34: 1651-1652. PMID: 38719278, DOI: 10.1136/ijgc-2024-005269.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPrescribed medical cannabis in women with gynecologic malignancies: A single-institution survey-based study
Webster EM, Yadav GS, Gysler S, McNamara B, Black J, Tymon-Rosario J, Zeybek B, Han C, Arkfeld CK, Andikyan V, Menderes G, Huang G, Azodi M, Silasi DA, Santin AD, Schwartz PE, Ratner ES, Altwerger G. Prescribed medical cannabis in women with gynecologic malignancies: A single-institution survey-based study. Gynecologic Oncology Reports 2020, 34: 100667. PMID: 33204797, PMCID: PMC7653050, DOI: 10.1016/j.gore.2020.100667.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTreatment-related symptomsGynecologic malignanciesMedical cannabisOpioid usePatient experienceBetter side effect profileDecrease opioid useGynecologic oncology populationPercent of patientsSide effect profileSubset of patientsBone painEligible patientsAbdominal painNeuropathic painRecurrent diseaseSymptom controlJoint painAdjunct therapyOncology populationEffect profileGynecologic oncologistsTraditional medicationsPainPatientsIn vitro and in vivo activity of IMGN853, an Antibody-Drug Conjugate targeting Folate Receptor Alpha linked to DM4, in biologically aggressive endometrial cancers
Altwerger G, Bonazzoli E, Bellone S, Egawa-Takata T, Menderes G, Pettinella F, Bianchi A, Riccio F, Feinberg J, Zammataro L, Han C, Yadav G, Dugan K, Morneault A, Ponte JF, Buza N, Hui P, Wong S, Litkouhi B, Ratner E, Silasi DA, Huang GS, Azodi M, Schwartz PE, Santin AD. In vitro and in vivo activity of IMGN853, an Antibody-Drug Conjugate targeting Folate Receptor Alpha linked to DM4, in biologically aggressive endometrial cancers. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2018, 17: molcanther.0930.2017. PMID: 29440294, PMCID: PMC5932245, DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-0930.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEndometrial cancerXenograft modelCell linesTumor cell linesPatient-derived xenograft modelsUterine cancer cell linesAggressive endometrial cancersEndometrial cancer deathsExpression of FRαPrimary USC cell linesRecurrent endometrial cancerReceptor alpha expressionUSC cell linesImpressive antitumor activityMol Cancer TherUSC patientsCancer cell linesMedian survivalCancer deathPDX modelsPreclinical dataUterine cancerComplete resolutionIMGN853Grade 3Impact of carboplatin hypersensitivity and desensitization on patients with recurrent ovarian cancer
Altwerger G, Florsheim EB, Menderes G, Black J, Schwab C, Gressel GM, Nelson WK, Carusillo N, Passante T, Huang G, Litkouhi B, Azodi M, Silasi DA, Santin A, Schwartz PE, Ratner ES. Impact of carboplatin hypersensitivity and desensitization on patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. Journal Of Cancer Research And Clinical Oncology 2018, 144: 2449-2456. PMID: 30255380, DOI: 10.1007/s00432-018-2753-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCarboplatin hypersensitivityCarboplatin desensitizationHypersensitive patientsOverall survivalRisk factorsOvarian cancerTwo-sided Fisher exactAdvanced stage ovarian cancerInfusion of carboplatinRecurrent ovarian cancerIndependent risk factorLonger overall survivalStage ovarian cancerOvarian cancer patientsLong-term treatmentNew risk factorsHigher likelihoodTwo-sided p valueT-testStudent's t-testDesignRetrospective studyGermline BRCA1/2Improved OSLonger OSDesensitization protocolPlatinum desensitization in patients with carboplatin hypersensitivity: A single-institution retrospective study
Altwerger G, Gressel GM, English DP, Nelson WK, Carusillo N, Silasi DA, Azodi M, Santin A, Schwartz PE, Ratner ES. Platinum desensitization in patients with carboplatin hypersensitivity: A single-institution retrospective study. Gynecologic Oncology 2016, 144: 77-82. PMID: 27789084, DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2016.09.027.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositive skin testsHypersensitivity reactionsDesensitization protocolSkin testCarboplatin infusionLife-threatening hypersensitivity reactionSingle-institution retrospective studyCarboplatin desensitization protocolPrior hypersensitivity reactionMajority of patientsCarboplatin hypersensitivity reactionsCarboplatin hypersensitivityPulmonary hypertensionAdverse eventsRetrospective reviewRetrospective studyGynecologic cancerGrade 0Patient deathRisk factorsCardiac conditionsPatientsLarger studyInfusionAge
2024
Randomized phase II trial of weekly ixabepilone with or without biweekly bevacizumab for platinum-resistant or refractory ovarian/fallopian tube/primary peritoneal cancer: Updated survival and subgroup analyses
Roque D, Siegel E, Buza N, Bellone S, Huang G, Andikyan V, Clark M, Azodi M, Schwartz P, Rao G, Xu F, Hui P, Altwerger G, Ratner E, Santin A. Randomized phase II trial of weekly ixabepilone with or without biweekly bevacizumab for platinum-resistant or refractory ovarian/fallopian tube/primary peritoneal cancer: Updated survival and subgroup analyses. Gynecologic Oncology 2024, 190: s299-s301. DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2024.07.449.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPredictive modeling of gene mutations for the survival outcomes of epithelial ovarian cancer patients
C. M, Lavi E, Altwerger G, Lin Z, Ratner E. Predictive modeling of gene mutations for the survival outcomes of epithelial ovarian cancer patients. PLOS ONE 2024, 19: e0305273. PMID: 38976671, PMCID: PMC11230535, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305273.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEpithelial ovarian cancerEpithelial ovarian cancer patientsEpithelial ovarian cancer casesGene mutation signaturesPlatinum-based chemotherapyThe Cancer Genome AtlasResponse to treatmentOverall survivalGene mutationsMutational signaturesHomologous recombinationSurvival outcomesIncreased sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapySensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapyAssociated with increased chemoresistanceResistance to platinum-based chemotherapySurvival timeSurvival rateFavorable response to treatmentPlatinum-induced DNA damageKaplan-Meier survival analysisPrediction of survival outcomesOvarian cancer patientsOverall survival ratePrediction of treatment outcomeTrastuzumab deruxtecan (DS-8201a), a HER2-targeting antibody–drug conjugate, demonstrates in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity against primary and metastatic ovarian tumors overexpressing HER2
Mutlu L, McNamara B, Bellone S, Manavella D, Demirkiran C, Greenman M, Verzosa M, Buza N, Hui P, Hartwich T, Harold J, Yang-Hartwich Y, Zipponi M, Altwerger G, Ratner E, Huang G, Clark M, Andikyan V, Azodi M, Schwartz P, Santin A. Trastuzumab deruxtecan (DS-8201a), a HER2-targeting antibody–drug conjugate, demonstrates in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity against primary and metastatic ovarian tumors overexpressing HER2. Clinical & Experimental Metastasis 2024, 41: 765-775. PMID: 38909139, DOI: 10.1007/s10585-024-10297-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHigh-grade serous ovarian cancerClear cell carcinomaHER2-targeting antibody-drug conjugateAntibody-drug conjugatesT-DXdReceptor over-expressionTrastuzumab deruxtecanXenograft modelCell linesOvarian clear cell carcinomaOvarian cancer cell linesTumors overexpressing HER2Biologically aggressive tumorsFluorescence in situ hybridization assaySerous ovarian cancerEffective antibody-drug conjugatesIn vivo antitumor activityMouse xenograft modelMetastatic cell linesDS-8201aCancer cell linesAggressive tumorsHER2 expressionCell carcinomaOvarian cancerRandomized phase II trial of weekly ixabepilone ± biweekly bevacizumab for platinum-resistant or refractory ovarian/fallopian tube/primary peritoneal cancer (NCT03093155): Updated survival and subgroup analyses
Roque D, Siegel E, Buza N, Bellone S, Huang G, Altwerger G, Andikyan V, Clark M, Azodi M, Schwartz P, Rao G, Ratner E, Santin A. Randomized phase II trial of weekly ixabepilone ± biweekly bevacizumab for platinum-resistant or refractory ovarian/fallopian tube/primary peritoneal cancer (NCT03093155): Updated survival and subgroup analyses. BJC Reports 2024, 2: 43. PMCID: PMC11523995, DOI: 10.1038/s44276-024-00067-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPre-treated ovarian cancerOverall survivalBev armsDose reductionOvarian cancerTaxane responseRandomized phase 2 trialRandomized phase II trialPaclitaxel-resistant diseaseResultsThirty-seven patientsTreated with paclitaxelPhase 2 trialBiweekly bevacizumabDays 1,8,15Taxane-sensitiveUpdate survivalProgression-freePeritoneal cancerDose modificationTaxane sensitivityPlatinum resistanceSubset analysisSubgroup analysisResponse ratePatientsIntegrated mutational landscape analysis of poorly differentiated high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix
Bellone S, Jeong K, Halle M, Krakstad C, McNamara B, Greenman M, Mutlu L, Demirkiran C, Hartwich T, Yang-Hartwich Y, Zipponi M, Buza N, Hui P, Raspagliesi F, Lopez S, Paolini B, Milione M, Perrone E, Scambia G, Altwerger G, Ravaggi A, Bignotti E, Huang G, Andikyan V, Clark M, Ratner E, Azodi M, Schwartz P, Quick C, Angioli R, Terranova C, Zaidi S, Nandi S, Alexandrov L, Siegel E, Choi J, Schlessinger J, Santin A. Integrated mutational landscape analysis of poorly differentiated high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2024, 121: e2321898121. PMID: 38625939, PMCID: PMC11046577, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321898121.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWhole-exome sequencingPatient-derived-xenograftsBase excision repairCopy number lossMultiregion whole-exome sequencingCopy number gainHigh-grade neuroendocrine carcinomaCNV analysisPhylogenetic analysisEvolutionary historyNeuroendocrine cervical cancerHuman papillomavirus DNAMutator phenotypeSensitivity to afatinibGenetic landscapeRecurrent mutationsRNA sequencingGene fusionsMutational landscape analysisExcision repairGenesMutationsPan-HERConsistent with deficiencyNeuroendocrine carcinomaRandomized Phase II Trial of Imiquimod with or without 9-Valent HPV Vaccine versus Observation in Patients with High-grade Pre-neoplastic Cervical Lesions (NCT02864147)
Sheth S, Oh J, Bellone S, Siegel E, Greenman M, Mutlu L, McNamara B, Pathy S, Clark M, Azodi M, Altwerger G, Andikyan V, Huang G, Ratner E, Kim D, Iwasaki A, Levi A, Buza N, Hui P, Flaherty S, Schwartz P, Santin A. Randomized Phase II Trial of Imiquimod with or without 9-Valent HPV Vaccine versus Observation in Patients with High-grade Pre-neoplastic Cervical Lesions (NCT02864147). Clinical Cancer Research 2024, 30: of1-of10. PMID: 38592381, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-3639.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRandomized phase II trialCD4/CD8 T cellsT cellsHPV clearanceArm BNo significant differenceClinical surveillanceRate of HPV clearanceSecondary outcomesPre-neoplastic cervical lesionsCervical intraepithelial neoplasiaT cell infiltrationT cell responsesSignificant differenceCIN3 patientsIntraepithelial neoplasiaArm ACervical lesionsImiquimod groupSurveillance armVaginal suppositoriesProspective trialsArm CHPV vaccinationImiquimodCorrection: Randomised phase II trial of weekly ixabepilone ± biweekly bevacizumab for platinum-resistant or refractory ovarian/fallopian tube/primary peritoneal cancer
Roque D, Siegel E, Buza N, Bellone S, Silasi D, Huang G, Andikyan V, Clark M, Azodi M, Schwartz P, Rao G, Reader J, Hui P, Tymon-Rosario J, Harold J, Mauricio D, Zeybek B, Menderes G, Altwerger G, Ratner E, Santin A. Correction: Randomised phase II trial of weekly ixabepilone ± biweekly bevacizumab for platinum-resistant or refractory ovarian/fallopian tube/primary peritoneal cancer. British Journal Of Cancer 2024, 130: 1073-1073. PMID: 38438590, PMCID: PMC10951353, DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02628-4.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2023
Surgical and oncologic outcomes in surgically treated women 80 years and older with endometrioid endometrial cancer as a function of their comorbidities
AlAshqar A, Ghazarian M, Webster E, Upadhyay A, Azodi M, Schwartz P, Ratner E, Altwerger G. Surgical and oncologic outcomes in surgically treated women 80 years and older with endometrioid endometrial cancer as a function of their comorbidities. Gynecologic Oncology Reports 2023, 49: 101240. PMID: 37636496, PMCID: PMC10450407, DOI: 10.1016/j.gore.2023.101240.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEndometrioid endometrial cancerOldest-old womenOncologic outcomesEndometrial cancerOlder womenComorbidity statusEarly-stage endometrioid endometrial cancerKaplan-Meier survival analysisLymph node dissectionRetrospective cohort studyFive-year survivalTimes higher riskCounseling of patientsComorbidity burdenPreoperative optimizationComorbidity indexNode dissectionCohort studyIndependent predictorsMedian agePostoperative infectionSurgical treatmentRisk diseaseSurgical managementWomen 80Real-World Efficacy and Safety of PARP Inhibitors in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Patients With Somatic BRCA and Other Homologous Recombination Gene Mutations
Pan Y, Hood A, Ahmad H, Altwerger G. Real-World Efficacy and Safety of PARP Inhibitors in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Patients With Somatic BRCA and Other Homologous Recombination Gene Mutations. Annals Of Pharmacotherapy 2023, 57: 1162-1171. PMID: 36651235, PMCID: PMC11062080, DOI: 10.1177/10600280221149136.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRecurrent ovarian cancer patientsOvarian cancer patientsSomatic BRCA mutationsOverall response rateCancer patientsBRCA mutationsPARP inhibitorsStable diseaseResponse rateHR mutationsDuration of therapyDuration of treatmentSomatic BRCA1/2 mutationsPoly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitorsReal-world efficacyElectronic medical recordsHomologous recombination mutationsSomatic BRCAMedian TTPTreatment interruptionChart reviewRetrospective studyEfficacy analysisEntire cohortMajor trials