GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY SERVICES

Gynecologic oncology specialists at UC Irvine Medical Center are international leaders in the diagnosis and treatment of women with cancers of the reproductive tract. This includes pre-malignant growths, in situ (localized) tumors, and invasive cancers of the cervix, uterus, endometrium, ovaries, fallopian tubes, vagina, and vulva. Our gynecologic oncologists are experts in treating rare and complex cases, including recurrent disease and therapy-related complications. UC Irvine Medical Center was named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s 50 best hospitals for gynecology services---an honor awarded to us for several consecutive years.  

Our team comprises some of the most prominent cancer specialists in the country. Among them are founding members of the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), a national cooperative dedicated to the advancement of clinical research and training in this highly specialized field. In addition, UC Medical Center offers one of the few four-year fellowship-training programs in gynecologic oncology in the U.S.

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Multidisciplinary approach

Our gynecologic oncologists are an integral part of the team with the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Chao Center is one of only 39 facilities nationwide to attain this recognition. As a result, our patients have access to new therapies years in advance of their general availability, as well as a full spectrum of conventional approaches.

Treatment is provided by a multidisciplinary team of highly trained cancer specialists who are sensitive to the physical, emotional and economic impacts of the disease on patients and families. Among them are radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and other cancer experts. They are supported by a team of nurse-specialists, case managers, psychologists, social workers and pain management experts. The team’s goal is to improve cure and remission rates by providing each patient with leading-edge diagnostic and treatment options in a nurturing and caring environment.

Diagnosis

If symptoms or screenings such as a Pap test suggest the possibility of cancer, a thorough pelvic exam and biopsy (removal of suspicious tissue for examination under a microscope) is conducted to confirm the presence of the disease. If the results are positive, more tests are needed to gauge the extent (stage) of the disease, including whether the tumor has invaded nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body.

• Chest X-ray
• CT scan
• MRI
• Ultrasound
• Barium enema
• Colonoscopy
• Other tests as needed

Surgery

The type of surgery recommended for a woman depends on many factors, including the kind of cancer, its stage, the patient’s medical history and other issues.

Surgical oncologists at UC Irvine Medical Center are at the forefront of new techniques to combat gynecological cancers, including laser therapy---the use of high-intensity laser light to remove growths without harming healthy, normal tissue.  In certain cases, laparoscopic surgery---a minimally invasive approach involving the use of a narrow tube and several small incisions---is also an option.

Radiation therapy

Depending on the stage and type of gynecologic cancer, radiation therapy may be administered alone, or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. If surgery is performed, radiation may be administered before, during or after the operation.

Radiation therapy may include external beam radiotherapy, which is sometimes combined with brachytherapy (radioactive implants). Other approaches include intensity modulated radiation therapy, a three-dimensional treatment that conforms to the exact size and shape of the tumor.

Chemotherapy

As a university-based medical center, we offer gynecologic cancer patients access to the newest chemotherapy drugs and combination therapies, which are available only through clinical trials. In addition to providing new chemotherapeutic agents, our cancer specialists employ leading-edge methods such as intraperitoneal chemotherapy to administer certain drug regimens. Used to treat women with ovarian cancer, this method involves introducing chemotherapeutic agents through a thin tube directly into the abdomen and pelvis.

If conventional chemotherapy is used, samples of the patient’s cancer cells are exposed to various chemotherapy agents in the laboratory to see which are most effective. Women are carefully monitored so alternative treatments can be selected if the disease is not responsive to a particular chemotherapy regimen.

New investigations

For more than two decades, the Gynecologic Oncology Division at UCI Medical Center has been one of the leading centers in the nation studying gynecologic malignancies. Among the many studies conducted by our cancer specialists are:

• TNF-LT in patients with gynecologic malignancies
• Photodynamic therapy for uterine and ovarian cancer
• The biology of gynecologic malignancies
• Immunotherapy and other biological response modifiers in gynecologic malignancies 
• Chemoprevention of cervical cancer
• Salvage therapy

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