IJGC conversations

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Aparna A. Kamat and Arthur Hsu to discuss GLP1-RAs and Cancer Risk in Non-diabetic Patients.
 
Dr. Aparna Kamat is the director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology for Houston Methodist and is currently the section leader for the Gynecologic Oncology service line. After completing medical training in India, Dr. Kamat completed her residency in OB/GYN at West Virginia University, where she served as chief resident.She completed her fellowship training in Gynecologic Oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. During her fellowship, she received multiple awards for her research in ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer, including the Virginia K. Pierce award and the Asche Murray fellowship. She also received the prestigious BIRCWH award from the N.I.H. for her research in biomarkers for ovarian cancer. Dr. Kamat currently is the principal investigator for the Gynecologic Oncology Group Clinical Trials Program at Houston Methodist and offers several state-of-the-art clinical trials for patients with gynecologic malignancies. She serves on the board of Ovarcome – a non-profit organization that provides support for women with ovarian cancer and was named Ovarcome Hero of the Year.Her areas of expertise are robotic and minimally invasive surgical options for women with gynecologic cancers and complex pelvic disease. Her other clinical interests include hereditary risk assessment and treatment of gynecologic malignancies.
 
Arthur Heng-Cheng Hsu, MD, is a gynecologic oncologist at the National Taiwan University Hospital and focuses on surgery, cancer therapy, and patient recovery. He serves as the Director of Journal Operations for the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer (IJGC). His recent work is published in the Annals of Oncology exploring GLP-1 receptor agonist use and cancer risk in obese, non-diabetic adults.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Paula Mateo-Kubach and Behrouz Zand to discuss Statin Use in Gynecologic Cancer Therapy.
 
Paula Mateo-Kubach, MD, is a Spanish physician who completed her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Toledo, Spain. She is currently a Research Fellow at Houston Methodist Hospital, where her work focuses on perioperative care and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS). In parallel, she is pursuing a PhD at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, with research centered on ERAS implementation challenges and opioid use in surgical care. Her next goal is to complete clinical training in gynecologic oncology.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ When she is not filling her database, she can be found underwater, she is a PADI-certified rescue diver.
 
Dr. Behrouz Zand is a gynecologic oncologist at Houston Methodist Hospital's Neal Cancer Center and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and an assistant professor at Weill Cornell College at Houston Methodist Academic Institute. Specializing in innovative cancer care and clinical trials, he is passionate about integrating AI in medicine, a recent alumnus of the physician program at MIT for AI integration in healthcare. Dr. Zand combines cutting-edge research with compassionate patient care to advance the field.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Sarah Andres and Mario M. Leitao Jr to discuss Empty Lymph Node Packet in SLN Mapping for Endometrial Cancer.
 
Sarah Andres, DO, FACOG, is a Gynecologic Oncology Fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), with planned graduation in June, 2027. She additionally works within the Weigelt Laboratory conducting translational research and studying rare gynecologic malignancies. Dr. Andres has contributed extensively to the field through her recent research, with work published in leading journals such as Gynecologic Oncology and the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer. Her recent publications explore critical topics including sentinel lymph node mapping techniques in uterine cancer, outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer, and genomic characterization of endometrial serous carcinoma. Her clinical and research interests span cervical, endometrial, and ovarian carcinoma, with contributions to multiple clinical trials and retrospective studies.
 
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 Santiago Vieira-Serna to discuss Contralateral pelvic lymph node metastases in patients with unilateral early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer.
 
Dr. Santiago Vieira-Serna is a gynecologic oncologist who graduated from the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología in Bogotá, Colombia, in 2023. He currently works at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología and at Clínica Universitaria Colombia.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Gabriel Levin to discuss Salpingo-oophorectomy at Radical Hysterectomy for Cervical Adenocarcinoma.
 
Dr. Gabriel Levin is a gynecologic oncologist and clinical researcher at McGill University and the McGill University Health Centre. His work focuses on real-world outcomes research, and health systems innovation in gynecologic cancers. He has authored more than 330 peer-reviewed publications and is actively involved in advancing evidence-based care through academic leadership and international collaboration.

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

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.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.