IJGC conversations

In this IJGC podcast, Dr. Pedro Ramirez discusses Checkpoint Inhibitor Rechallenge in Endometrial Cancer with Brian Slomovitz. 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.    

In this IJGC podcast, Dr. Pedro Ramirez discusses PEACOCC Trial: Pembrolizumab in Clear Cell Cancer with Rebecca Kristeleit.   Rebecca Kristeleit is a Consultant Medical Oncologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Comprehensive Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences at KCL, London. She is Research Lead for gynaecological cancer, R&D Lead for Oncology and Clinical Lead for Oncology and Haematology Clinical Trials at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. She works as a Principle Investigator within the KCL Cancer Early Phase Trials Unit, Theme Lead within King’s Health Partners ECMC and is Academic Lead for the King’s Health Partners Gynaecological Cancer Biobank.  Rebecca has extensive experience in experimental therapeutics and associated translational research, particularly molecular selection for therapeutics, as well as Phase II and III clinical trials. She works closely with several academic collaborators at KCL, nationally and internationally. She is currently leading two trial programmes of drugs discovered at KCL, a novel immunotherapy and a solid tumour CAR-T. She mentors and supervises KCL undergraduate and postgraduate students. Rebecca’s primary motivation is to improve treatment options available for patients with gynaecological cancer and she has been instrumental in the development and delivery of new licensed drugs in gynaecological cancer, for example rucaparib, dostarlimab, through clinical trial research leadership. She led the UK academic PEACOCC trial investigating pembrolizumab in clear cell gynaecological cancer and is global Co-Investigator for DOVE, a follow-on international randomised Phase II trial in the same rare indication. She leads many trials nationally and internationally, several in partnership with GTG-UK. Rebecca has published extensively, speaks regularly at International Conferences and has held several national and international research leadership positions including Chair BGCS Scientific Committee, BGCS guidelines committee, BGCS medical oncology representative, Oncology and Haematology Expert Advisory Group for the Commission on Human Medicines, CRUK New Agents Committee, ESMO Faculty, Chair ASCO Gynaecological Cancer Scientific Committee, ASCO educational committee.

In this IJGC podcast, Dr. Pedro Ramirez discusses ADCs and Oral Mucositis: Strategies for Gynecologic Oncologists with Michelle D. Lightfoot.   Michelle D. Lightfoot, MD, joined NYU Langone in August 2021 after completing fellowship training in gynecologic oncology at The Ohio State University. She received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and a master’s in public health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, before completing residency training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School. At NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center and Bellevue Hospital, Dr. Lightfoot provides clinical care and is committed to training future generations of physicians and gynecologic oncologists. As a physician–researcher, she is dedicated to improving care for women with gynecologic malignancies through research, quality improvement initiatives, and public health measures. She also serves on the Society of Gynecologic Oncology’s policy, quality, and outcomes subcommittee. In collaboration with researchers at NYU Langone Health’s Institute for Excellence in Health Equity, Dr. Lightfoot’s research focuses on identifying and eliminating disparities in cancer care delivery and outcomes among women with gynecologic cancers

In this episode of the IJGC conversations 2025 October Editor's Choice, Editorial Fellow Tommaso Meschini and Carlotta Sabini discusses the contents of the 2025 October issue of IJGC. 

In this IJGC podcast, Dr. Pedro Ramirez discusses ROSELLA Trial: Relacorilant in Platinum-resistant Ovarian Cancer with Alexander B. Olawaiye. Dr. Olawaiye a Professor and  Vice Chair for DI at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences. He is director of gynecologic cancer research at Magee-Women’s Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and has overseen multiple clinical research projects. He is also the Gynecologic Oncology Group Foundation principal investigator for the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and in this role has collaborated with multiple clinical scientists across the country to conduct phases I, II and III studies. As well as a co-principal investigator on the University of Pittsburgh ovarian cancer SPORE program. Dr. Olawaiye also studies chemotherapeutic agents and their complications, along with mentoring many younger clinicians at the beginning of their academic careers. His recent work published in LANCET, the phase 3 ROSELLA trial, tested the combination of Relacorilant and nab-paclitaxel in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. 

In this IJGC podcast, Dr. Pedro Ramirez discusses Carcinosarcoma with no myoinvasion with Giuseppe Cucinella and Mario M. Leitao, Jr. Giuseppe Cucinella, MD, is a gynecologist working at Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCSS Fondazione G.Pascale in Naples, Italy (Department of Gynecologic Oncology). During his residency, he worked as a research fellow at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he focused on the study of endometrial cancer. He is currently in the second year of the PhD program in "Experimental Oncology and Surgery - Gynecologic Oncology" at the University of Palermo, Palermo (Italy). Dr. Cucinella's clinical research focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of endometrial cancer and minimally invasive surgery in gynecologic oncology.   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 conversations 2025 September Editor's Choice, Editorial Fellow Filippo Capomacchia and Natalia Teixeira discusses the contents of the 2025 September issue of IJGC. 

In this IJGC podcast, Dr. Pedro Ramirez discusses SENTIX Trial with David Cibula. Dr. David Cibula graduated from the First Faculty of Medicine at Charles University in Prague in 1992. Since 2003, he has served as the Chair of the Gynecological Oncology Center at the University Hospital in Prague, and in 2022, he became the head of the Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Neonatology. He is a former President of the European Society of Gynecologic Oncology and previously led the International Group for Guidelines and Quality Indicators in Cervical Cancer. He is the founder and chair of the Central and Eastern European Group for Clinical Trials in Gynecologic Oncology, a member of ENGOT. Dr. Cibula has also established two charitable organizations supporting patients with gynecologic cancers and promoting research in the field. He is the author or co-author of hundreds of scientific publications. His recent article in Nature Cancer presents the final results of the SENTIX study on sentinel lymph node biopsy in early-stage cervical cancer.

In this IJGC podcast, Dr. Pedro Ramirez discusses RAMP 201 Results: Avutometinib and Defactinib in Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer with Susana N Banerjee and Rachel N. Grisham. Prof Susana Banerjee MBBS MA PhD FRCP is a Consultant Medical Oncologist and Research Lead for the Gynaecology Unit at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London. She is also Professor in Women’s Cancers at the Institute of Cancer Research. Dr Banerjee specialises in ovarian cancer and the systemic treatment of endometrial and cervical cancers. Prof Banerjee is President of the Royal Society of Medicine Oncology Section. Prof Banerjee graduated with a 1st class in Physiology from St John’s College, University of Cambridge. She was president of the Cambridge Medical Society in 1996-1997. She completed her medical training in 2000 at The Royal Free/University College London Medical School where she was a University of London Gold Medal finalist. Dr Banerjee gained a PhD from The Institute of Cancer Research in 2009, University of London and was awarded the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium Novartis Oncology Basic Science Award for her research. Other prizes include the Association of Cancer Physicians McElwain Prize, the Sir Antony Driver Prize and the Pfizer British Oncology Association Young Investigator Award (highly commended). She received The Fellow of ESMO (FESMO) Award in 2023. Prof Banerjee has served in international specialist groups including the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Executive Steering Committee for Gynaecological Cancers, ESGO (European Society of Gynaecological Oncology) Congress Faculty and International Gynecologic Cancer Society Scientific Program Committee. Prof Susana Banerjee was elected to serve on the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Executive Board as Director of Membership (2020-2022). She was Track Chair for Gynaecological Cancers for the ESMO Congress 2018, Scientific Co-Chair for ESMO Asia 2018 and Co-Chair of the ESMO Gynaecological Cancers Congress 2021-2024. She is currently co-chair of the Gynecological Cancer InterGroup (GCIG) Rare Cancers Committee. She is a Theme Lead (Cancer Treatment Effects) for the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research. Prof Banerjee is an author of over 200 peer-reviewed publications including in the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Lancet Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology and Annals of Oncology. Her research interests include individualisation of patient treatment, targeted therapies (including PARP inhibitors) and rare gynaecological cancers. Prof Banerjee has Global and UK Chief Investigator roles of over 30 national and international clinical trials. She led the ENGOTov60/GOG3052/RAMP201 trial globally which resulted in FDA accelerated approval for avutometinib and defactanib - the first approved therapy specifically for low grade serous ovarian cancer.   Dr. Rachel N. Grisham is a medical oncologist and internationally recognized expert in gynecologic cancers, with a particular focus on low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (LGSOC) and rare ovarian malignancies. She has played a leading role in advancing systemic therapy for ovarian cancer through clinical trials, translational research, and national guideline development. Dr. Grisham has been at the forefront of evaluating novel targeted therapies for LGSOC, including MEK inhibitors, avutometinib, and defactinib, as well as hormone-directed strategies and combinations with novel agents. She has served as principal or co-investigator on multiple pivotal trials, including ENGOT-OV60/GOG-3052/RAMP 201 and RAMP 301, which are shaping the future treatment landscape for recurrent LGSOC. Her work extends to biomarker-driven approaches, exploring MAPK pathway alterations, homologous recombination deficiency, and folate receptor alpha expression, with the goal of developing precision oncology strategies in ovarian cancer. In addition to clinical trials, Dr. Grisham has published extensively on the molecular landscape and clinicopathologic features of ovarian tumors, treatment paradigms for granulosa cell tumors and clear cell carcinoma, and the management of rare gynecologic neoplasms such as mesonephric-like adenocarcinomas. She is a co-author of the NCCN Guidelines for Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancers, reflecting her leadership in shaping standards of care. Her scholarly contributions include over a decade of influential publications in Journal of Clinical Oncology, Clinical Cancer Research, Gynecologic Oncology, International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, and Cancer. She has also authored consensus statements and state-of-the-science reviews that provide critical guidance for clinicians worldwide. Through her clinical research, teaching, and collaborative international work, Dr. Grisham has made significant contributions to improving outcomes for women with gynecologic cancers, particularly those with low-grade serous ovarian cancer, a historically under-researched disease.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Drs. Tyler Hillman and Allison Lynn Brodsky to discuss Surgical Approach in Recurrent Granulosa Cell Tumor.   Tyler Hillman, MD, PhD, is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist at UC San Diego Health, where he specializes in medical and surgical management of gynecologic cancers, with expertise in minimally invasive surgery, symptom management, and novel therapies. An associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, he teaches medical students, residents, and fellows at UC San Diego School of Medicine. Dr. Hillman’s research focuses on rare ovarian cancers, particularly sex cord–stromal tumors, and he has published extensively in leading journals such as Nature, JNCI, and Gynecologic Oncology. He also holds leadership roles in NRG Oncology and the Society of Gynecologic Oncology. Allison Lynn Brodsky, MD, MS, is a fellow in gynecologic oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.  She completed her OBGYN residency at the University of California San Diego. Her research interests include rare gynecologic tumors, clinical trial development, and quality improvement. 

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Dr. Bradley Monk to discuss ctDNA: Results from CALLA Trial.   Bradley Monk, MD, FACOG, FACS is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist with Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute and medical director of the Late-Stage Clinical Research Program. He provides care to patients at the FCS West Palm Beach location. Dr. Monk has extensive leadership experience in practice-changing clinical research and the development of clinical research programs in community oncology settings. His research special interests are primarily focused on the prevention and treatment of gynecologic cancers. As a principal investigator, Dr. Monk has been involved in numerous groundbreaking studies throughout his career. Dr. Monk is a co-founder of the GOG-Partners (GOG-P) Foundation® (GOG-F), a nonprofit organization committed to advancing clinical and scientific research in the field of gynecologic malignancies. The organization was instrumental in establishing a national gynecologic clinical trials network. He has presented his findings at hundreds of national and international forums and authored more than 400 peer-reviewed articles and more than 35 book chapters focused on the prevention and treatment of gynecologic malignancies and patient reported outcomes. Dr. Monk is a past recipient of the esteemed Ernst Wertheim Award for his research in cervical cancer. Prior to joining FCS in 2024, Dr. Monk served as director and principal investigator for HonorHealth at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he also served as the site research leader for Sarah Cannon Research Institute. Among his numerous academic appointments, he most recently served as a professor on the Clinical Scholar Track at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Dr. Frédéric Amant to discuss ESGO/INCIP 2025 Guidelines for Cancer in Pregnancy.   Frédéric Amant (MD, PhD) received his medical degree from the University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium in 1992, completed his specialty training as an obstetrician/gynecologist in 1998 and his subspecialty training in gynecologic oncology in 2000. He defended his thesis on uterine sarcomas in 2002 at the KU Leuven. He is specialist at the UZ Leuven in Belgium. He is professor at the KU Leuven in Belgium and at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and honorary professor at the university of Pretoria, South Africa. Since 2024 he is council member of the European Society of Gynecologic Oncology. Frédéric Amant heads the Gynecologic Oncology research section at the University of Leuven, Belgium and at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. In 2005 he founded the “International Network on Cancer, Infertility and Pregnancy” (INCIP)(www.cancerinpregnancy.org), and chairs this network up till now. Since 2014, INCIP also registers young women who aim to preserve their fertility. In 2021 he launched the Advisory Board Cancer Infertility Pregnancy (ABCIP) under the umbrella of INCIP. In addition, Frédéric Amant founded Trace, the tumor xenograft platform at the KU Leuven and the Fund for Innovative Research at the KU Leuven. He co-founded ENITEC, the European Network on Individualized Treatment of Endometrial Cancer. Since 2024 he is member of the research council at the KU Leuven.

In this episode of the IJGC conversations 2025 August Editor's Choice, Editorial Fellow Rim Abou Chakra and Mariana Carvalho Gouveia discusses the contents of the 2025 August issue of IJGC.   

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Dr. Anna Fagotti to discuss HIPEC in Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian Cancer (HORSE Trial). Anna Fagotti is a Professor and Consultant of Gynecologic Oncology at A. Gemelli University Hospital Foundation IRCCS. She is the President of ESGO - European Society of Gynaecological Oncology. Her research interests are Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology, Advanced Ovarian Cancer, Gynecological Cancer, and Laparoscopic Surgery.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Drs. Ilaria Capasso, Camilla Nero, and Evelyn A. Reynolds to discuss ctDNA in Endometrial Cancer . Dr. Capasso completed her OBGYN residency at Fondazione Policlinico Agostino Gemelli (Rome, Italy), where she worked in the Gynecologic Oncology Unit with a focus on clinical and translational research in endometrial cancer. From May 2022 to May 2023, she was a Visiting Research Fellow at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN, USA), leading projects on AI, the microbiome, and ctDNA in endometrial cancer. She is currently a consultant in the Gynecologic Oncology Unit at Gemelli and continues to collaborate with Mayo Clinic as a research collaborator. Camilla Nero, MD, PhD, is a clinician-scientist in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS in Rome, where her translational work focuses on gynecological cancers. She has authored key studies on dual CDK12/13 inhibition in patient-derived ovarian cancer organoids and numerous reviews on treatment resistance and novel therapeutic strategies. In 2024, she was awarded the AIRC Next Gen Clinician Scientist Grant to support her independent research in gynecological cancers at Gemelli. Evelyn A. Reynolds, M.D., is a board-certified Gynecologic Oncologist specializing in surgical care for women with gynecologic cancers. She has hed faculty positions at the University of Kansas and Morehouse School of Medicine. Since returning to Mayo Clinic in 2023, she has also expanded her academic role, focusing her research on the early detection of endometrial cancer, optimizing surgical outcomes and reducing healthcare disparities.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Dr. Marie Plante to discuss minimally invasive surgery in simple hysterectomy from the subanalysis of SHAPE trial. Dr. Plante has a major interest in minimally invasive surgical (MIS) approaches in the treatment of gynecologic cancers and in fertility-preserving surgery for young women with cervical cancer. She is currently leading two important international trials, the SHAPE trial and the Contessa trial.

In this IJGC podcast, Dr. Pedro Ramirez discusses Impact of Surgical Timing and Residual Disease in Ovarian Cancer with Martina Angeles and Alejandra Martinez. Martina Angeles is a gynecologic oncology specialist at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona. She trained in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona and completed an ESGO-accredited fellowship in gynecologic oncology (2018–2020). In 2023, she earned her PhD from the Autonomous University of Madrid, focusing on the role of surgery in advanced ovarian cancer. She is an Editorial Board Member of the IJGC and former ENYGO–IJGC Editorial Fellow. Her main research interest is advanced ovarian cancer. Prof. Alejandra Martinez has been the Deputy Head of the Surgical Oncology Department at Toulouse University Cancer Center (Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse) since 2016. She has served as the Director of the ESGO fellowship program of the IUCTO since 2017 and as a professor in oncology since 2021.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez is joined by Dr. Floriane Jochum to discuss Impact of RCTs on Clinical Practice.  Dr. Floriane Jochum is a Gynecologic Oncologist at Strasbourg University Hospital in France. She completed her PhD in cancer research and computational epidemiology at Institut Curie in Paris. Her doctoral work focused on the multiple applications of real-world data in gynecologic oncology, exploring topics ranging from disparities in access to care to the development of emulated clinical trials. 

In this IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez discusses Lymphadenectomy in Low-Grade Ovarian Cancer with Elizabeth Tubridy and Dimitrios Nasioudis.  Elizabeth Tubridy is a 3rd year Gynecologic Oncology Fellow at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She received her Bachelor of Science from Georgetown University and obtained her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at New York University Medical Center.  Upon graduation she will be joining the Gynecologic Oncology practice at White Plains Hospital in New York. Her research focuses include the role of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in ovarian cancer as well as equity and inclusion in Gyn Oncology clinical trials. Dimitrios Nasioudis is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania. He obtained his medical degree from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and completed his residency and fellowship training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and a member of the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology. His main research focus is the development of novel therapeutics and population-based outcomes research focusing on rare gynecologic cancers.

In this episode of the IJGC conversations 2025 July Editor's Choice, Editorial Fellow Helena Obermair and Friederike Stroisch discusses the contents of the 2025 July issue of IJGC.