SGO Spokesperson Mark H. Einstein, MD, MS, is available to speak about recent published reports on a study that was published in the Jan. 9, 2013, issue of Science Translational Medicine about the possibility of evaluating DNA from the Papanicolaou test—the gold standard for testing for cervical cancer--to detect ovarian and endometrial (uterine) cancers.
Dr. Einstein says:
1) There is currently no available screening test for ovarian cancer and uterine cancer. Any progress made to finding one is a step forward in preventing the most deadly of gynecologic cancers, ovarian cancer. 2) Regarding this test, the data is intriguing and needs further validation in larger cohorts, with particular attention to patients with other disorders that might mimic a “positive” test. One of the problems with current tests used in screening trials is many have a high false positive rate.3) Current Pap tests are meant to screen for cervical cancer. They do not screen for ovarian and endometrial cancer. A tool that piggy-backs on current screening, such as a Pap for cervical cancer screening, has huge clinical implications.4) With a focus on cancer prevention, SGO encourages and supports the development of any new tests that might eventually be able to assist us in identifying ovarian cancer early, when they are most treatable.
About Dr. Mark EinsteinMark H. Einstein, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women’s Health and Director of Clinical Research for Women’s Health and Gynecologic Oncology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center. Dr. Einstein’s primary research interests focus on the pathogenesis, therapy, and prevention of cervical cancer. He has developed and has been leading numerous multi-institutional clinical trials in targeting HPV and cervical cancer as well as cervical cancer prevention. He is active in clinical trial cooperative groups as Co-Chair of the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) Immunotherapy Committee and is a voting member of the GOG Cervix Committee.
RSS