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Department

Gynaecological Oncology

The department of Gynaecological Oncology conducts studies on pre-malignancies, vulva-, cervical, ovarian and endometrial cancer. The studies are embedded in the ACE Gynaecological Tumours and are rolled out in the South-West Netherlands region.

About our department

Our research

We are initiators of the following studies:

  • Pre-malignancies: we run multicenter studies on the pre-malignant cervix and HPV (Vaccin; Topic-2 trial) on the pre-malignant endometrium (the EIN study).
  • In women with cervical dysplasia we assess the acceptability of HIV testing. 
  • Vulva-cancer: we conduct a multicenter-study on recurrent vulvar cancer and the feasibility and safety of a re-sentinel node procedure.
  • Ovarian cancer: the PlaComOv study is a placebo-controlled RCT on a new technique for cytoreductive surgery in ovarian cancer. The study is closed and the primary outcome is known but we are awaiting results from overall survival. A translational study linked to the PlaComOv study is looking into therapy resistance in ovarian cancer via ct-DNA and Med-seq studies. The BETER study is a multi-center descriptive observational study to gain insight into the experiences and needs of patients after treatment of high-stage ovarian cancer. Data is collected by focus group discussions. Furthermore we evaluate hyperspectral imaging in ovarian cancer.
  • We participate in several studies initiated by other centers, such as the OVHIPEC-2 study, the GERSOC study for ovarian cancer, the Granulosa study and Fertility Preservation study,
  • Endometrial cancer: a prospective study on carcinosarcomas of the uterus (CUS) addresses risk factors and quality of life of patients with carcinosarcoma of the uterus as well as genetic and molecular background of Carcinosarcomas.
  • Cervical Cancer: we are the national coordinating center of the Robot-assisted Approach to Cervical Cancer (RACC) trial. We run a study on digital Spatial Profiling in cervical cancer and its metastasis. We evaluate the Quality of Life of patients who received chemoradiation. We participate in the SPARC study regarding sexual- revalidation in women treated with radiation for gynecological cancer.
  • Genetic gynaecological cancers: we study the Lynch Syndrome and BRCA1 and BRCA2 gynaecological cancers.
  • Detection of Gynaecological cancer: Together with other departments we do research to detect gynaecological cancer earlier or better: we do research on ct-DNA and Med-Seq in ovarian cancer and on proteomics in cervical smears.

Principal Investigators

  • Dr Heleen van Beekhuizen is principal investigator in the PlaComOv, Vaccin, Topic-2 and CUS studies.
  • Dr Lena van Doorn is principal investigator in the V2SLN, EIN and endometrium damage repair studies.

Research Lines

  • Premalignant gynaecological abnormalities and HPV.
  • New surgical techniques in gynaecological cancer.
  • Therapy resistance in ovarian and endometrial cancer.
  • Genetic gynaecological cancer.

Fluorescence-Guided Surgery Group

Fluorescence-guided surgery is an intraoperative optical imaging method that provides surgeons with real-time guidance for the identification and delineation of tumours or vital structures. This novel approach is being tested by different surgical disciplines within the Erasmus MC.

Projects

Logo project carcinosarcoma of the uterus

Carcinosarcoma of the Uterus

A prospective observational study in patients with carcinosarcoma of the uterus (CSU) in South-West Netherlands.

Research project default image

DNA damage response in tumours of patients with endometrial cancer

Ideally in the future, after a preclinical test on a tumour sample of an individual patient, a patient-tailored therapy will be chosen with the best perspectives thereby avoiding non-active therapies. An important advantage would be a less toxic treatment with fewer side effects for the patient, which could potentially be repeated depending on specific biological targets.
default image of Erasmus MC research projects

Endometrial Intraepithelial Neoplasia (EIN) study

We study the accuracy of the EIN diagnosis in office-based endometrial sampling; i.e., aspiration sampling devices and hysteroscopy, and the risk of a malignancy after such diagnosis.
Research project default image

Hyperspectral Imaging in Gynaecological Oncology (HSI-GO)
Logo Placom OV study

PlaComOv-study: PlasmaJet in case of Ovarian Cancer

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the PlasmaJet surgical device in the treatment of advanced stage ovarian cancer: a randomized controlled trial in the Netherlands.
Logo Topic 2 study

TopIC-2: Imiquimod in recurrent CIN

We investigate the efficacy of imiquimod in recurrent and residual CIN lesions with the aim to avoid further excisional therapy with risk of complications.
Logo V2SLN

V2SLN

We study the feasibility and safety of the sentinel node procedure in recurrent vulvar cancer.
Logo VACCIN

VACCIN study

Adjuvant VACcination against HPV in surgical treatment of CIN lesions, a Randomised Controlled Trial’. Limited data shows that prophylactic HPV vaccination after a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) reduces the chance of recurrence of CIN lesions in cervical cancer.

Publications

You will find the most recent publications on Gynecological Oncology - Research output - Erasmus University Rotterdam (eur.nl).

Collaborations

  • We collaborate within the Academic Center of Excellence for Gynaecological Tumours of the Erasmus MC.
  • We do studies within the Consortium 2.0 of the Dutch Organization of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
  • Studies are developed and rolled out in the Gynaecological Cancer Network South-West Netherlands.

News, events and awards

Education

Any questions?

Please contact our office if you have any questions or comments.

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