Faculty Bibliography

PARP inhibitors have shown significant promise in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Olaparib is a PARP inhibitor that has been approved for maintenance for BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer in the recurrent and front-line setting as well as for treatment of BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer in patients who have received multiple prior lines of chemotherapy. In this review, we focus on the use of olaparib in the maintenance setting including the evidence to date, ongoing research, and future directions.

Project ESCUCHE was developed to evaluate the potential to increase science literacy among Spanish-language radio listeners. In collaboration with community partners, we developed a 10-week culturally applicable science and health curriculum delivered through Spanish-language radio. Science literacy was assessed before and after the intervention. Among the 51 participants, 70% were female, 76% were > 35 years old, 60% reported some college education, and 90% preferred speaking in Spanish versus English. The majority of participants (>94%) demonstrated adequate baseline functional health literacy, and 70% reported listening to all ten of the radio programs. Participants demonstrated significant increases in science knowledge post intervention (mean score before intervention 68.4% and after intervention 77%). This improvement was consistent across gender, education level, age, and baseline functional health literacy. Radio has the potential to be an effective method of engaging the Spanish-speaking community to improve science literacy. The results from the ESCUCHE program add to the groundwork for further exploration of how radio programming and other media platforms can be used to impact health.

•Gynecologic oncologists face multiple barriers in participating in global health.•Several barriers may be addressed at the institutional level.•Most global health experiences involved direct patient care, while only a small proportion involved research.•Gynecologic oncologists receive little structured training in global health.

Ovarian cysts are common in the reproductive age. Pathologic cysts such as endometriomas and dermoids often require surgical intervention if symptomatic. Laparoscopic cystectomy is the first-line treatment for these cysts and is associated with better pain control and less recurrence than drainage or cyst ablation procedures. There has been an emerging concern about the effect of ovarian cystectomy on ovarian reserve with some evidence of short-term and long-term reduction in ovarian reserve. Certain cyst characteristics (endometrioma pathology, large cyst size, bilateral presentation) are associated with a greater decline in ovarian reserve after cystectomy. The impact of surgery on ovarian reserve can be minimized by selecting the appropriate surgery for the patient, careful tissue handling, and limited use of electrosurgery. Patients should be counseled on the risks of surgery on reproductive potential, and the management plan should be individualized to the patient's symptoms and reproductive goals.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW:Vaginal cuff dehiscence and evisceration are rare but potentially serious complications of hysterectomy. In this article, we review the incidence, risk factors, management, and preventive measures for dehiscence based on available literature. RECENT FINDINGS:Identifying risk factors for dehiscence is challenging because studies lack comparison groups and most studies are largely underpowered to draw concrete conclusions. SUMMARY:High-quality data on cuff dehiscence after hysterectomy are limited. Potentially modifiable risks that optimize vaginal wound healing, minimize vaginal cuff strain, and minimize cuff infection should be optimized.