Roswell Park Researchers Take Center Stage at Meeting of Experts on Gynecologic Cancers

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Members of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center’s senior leadership team, physician staff and fellows have been invited to present research findings and insights at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) 50th Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer. SGO is considered the premier specialty society for healthcare professionals focused on comprehensive treatment of gynecological cancers. The meeting runs March 16-19 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Among them are five Roswell Park researchers invited to give podium presentations:

Kunle Odunsi, MD, PhD, FRCOG, FACOG, was asked to discuss the future of immunology for gynecologic malignancies as part of a plenary session beginning at 7:45 a.m. HST Sunday, March 17. As the Deputy Director, Chair of Gynecologic Oncology and Executive Director of the Center for Immunotherapy at Roswell Park, Dr. Odunsi continues to lead the way in this field, pioneering new approaches and developing strategies for improving the care and quality of life for patients with ovarian cancer and other gynecologic cancers. Presentation details available here.

As part of a plenary session later that morning highlighting results from new clinical trials, Emese Zsiros, MD, PhD, FACOG, will present results from a phase II clinical trial that seeks to enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibition with pembrolizumab and two other immunomodulatory drugs for epithelial ovarian cancer. Dr. Zsiros, a staff physician and Assistant Professor of Oncology with Roswell Park’s gynecologic oncology team, will share initial findings about the safety and efficacy of this novel treatment combination. Presentation details available here.

As part of an education forum, clinical fellow Jaron Mark, MD, will give an update Monday, March 18, beginning at 6:07 p.m. HST on a project he presented last year at SGO related to opioid prescribing following major gynecologic oncology procedures. In a study, researchers discovered they were able to dramatically reduce use of opioids without any impact on patient pain scores. Roswell Park adopted new pain management guidelines across all its surgical programs in January. Presentation details available here.

Fellow Paul Mayor, MD, will discuss evidence that surgery suppresses the immune system during a featured poster presentation the evening of Monday, March 18. Presentation details available here.

Physician wellness also takes center stage at SGO. A Saturday, March 16, presentation by clinical fellow Sarah Lynam, MD, highlights a national survey she and Dr. Zsiros conducted together on the burnout rate among gynecologic oncologist trainees. Presentation details available here.

“I am proud to see so many talented Roswell Park colleagues included at this year’s SGO Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer,” says Dr. Odunsi. “Our presentations will give conference-goers a glimpse into the latest trials and studies we’re working on and our drive to improve care for patients at Roswell Park and around the world.”

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Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is a community united by the drive to eliminate cancer’s grip on humanity by unlocking its secrets through personalized approaches and unleashing the healing power of hope. Founded by Dr. Roswell Park in 1898, it is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. Learn more at www.roswellpark.org, or contact us at 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or ASKRoswell@RoswellPark.org