Clinical Corner
Minimally invasive surgery in ovarian cancer
UF Health Uses Latest Robot for Minimally Invasive Surgery in Ovarian Cancer
For patients with ovarian cancer, the standard surgical approach is an open procedure, with the two alternatives being conventional or robotically assisted laparoscopy. Either form of minimally invasive surgery is suitable for carefully selected patients with early-stage ovarian cancer and those with Stage III or IV disease who have a good response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
“In North Florida, we have a lot of very elderly patients,” notes Joel Cardenas-Goicoechea, M.D., an assistant professor in the UF department of obstetrics and gynecology. “Many of them are inclined to say they are too old for surgery and go into hospice care. Robotic surgery represents an opportunity for some patients who respond to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The benefits include less bleeding, less pain, faster recovery and reduced risk of complications in properly selected patients.”
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Clinical Trial Highlight: Neuro-Related Cancers
This issue of the UFHCC Connection highlights clinical trials currently recruiting patients with neuro-related cancers.
Questions about how to send a patient? Please contact the Clinical Trials Office at cancer-center@ufl.edu or 352.273.8675
The purpose of this research study is to determine if laser interstitial thermotherapy (LITT) plus pembrolizumab is effective in treatment of brain metastases that recur after stereotactic radiosurgery.
This is currently the only clinical trial for brain mets using novel therapies including laser ablation and immunotherapy.
This is a pilot study seeking 15 patients for enrollment at the University of Florida. All study patients will receive both LITT and pembrolizumab.
Subject inclusion criteria:
- Primary Melanoma, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Small Cell Lung Cancer, Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer, Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma, Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Urothelial Carcinoma, Microsatellite Instability-High Cancer, Gastric Cancer, Esophageal Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Merkel Cell Carcinoma, or Renal Cell Carcinoma
- Imaging demonstrating metastases (1-3 lesions) where at least one lesion has had prior stereotactic radiosurgery and demonstrates tumor growth
- 18 years or older
- No active viral or autoimmune disease
Principal Investigator: Maryam Rahman, M.D.
For information on this trial, please contact the TORCH clinical research coordinator:
Annie Allen, MBA | 352.294.8836 | anne.allen@neurosurgery.ufl.edu