Major clinical research advances in gynecologic cancer 2007

Major clinical research advances in gynecologic cancer in 2007 are as follows. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines were shown to be effective in preventing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). In treating cervical cancer, the intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) was suggested to be less toxic than the conventional radiotherapy was. Minimally invasive surgery, especially robot surgery is expected to be more popular in future. Adjuvant radiotherapy did not increase the survival rate in early endometrial cancer. Adjuvant chemoradiation was demonstrated to be superior to adjuvant radiation in the treatment of early endometrial cancer. Hormone therapy in endometrial cancer was effective but has high recurrence rate. Pelvic/abdominal pain, increased abdominal size/bloating, difficulty eating/feeling full, urinary frequency/urgency could be the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Serial CA-125 measurement or combining ultrasonography and CA-125 could be effective screening strategies of ovarian cancer. Molecules interfering vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were shown to be effective in the treatment of ovarian cancer.