Gynecologic Care

Thanks to philanthropy, patients with gynecologic cancers are turning to Hoag for their most intimate health care needs. From cutting-edge technology and research to compassionate, comprehensive wellness offerings, Hoag is providing women with choice and empowering them to meet their health care goals, wherever they are on their journey. You make all this and more possible.

Clinical Trials Bring New Hope to Patients

Hoag Women’s Health Institute’s Gynecologic Cancer Program offers a range of clinical trials, including experimental or phase I trials, that can be life-lengthening or life-saving for many patients. Clinical trials require a coordinated team and infrastructure to run, and philanthropic support makes it possible. Eight clinical trials are currently open for patients with ovarian, uterine and cervical cancer, with additional trials in the pipeline.

Immunotherapy Clinical Trial for Cervical Cancer

Hoag recently opened a phase III clinical trial that is giving new hope to women with cervical cancer. The trial adds an immunotherapy component to the current treatment standard of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, arming the immune system to fight the cancer while enhancing the effectiveness of the other treatments. The trial’s promising results mean it could soon become the standard practice.

Targeted Therapy Trial for Patients with Metastatic Ovarian or Uterine Cancer

Patients with metastatic ovarian or uterine cancer who have specific genetic mutations in their tumor and whose cancer has not responded to chemotherapy are receiving early access to a brand new, targeted therapy through a phase I clinical trial available at Hoag. Early results are demonstrating benefit for patients who may have otherwise exhausted their treatment options.

Advances in Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Hoag is an early adopter of these cutting-edge ovarian cancer therapies, which can be game changers for many women with the disease.

• Poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, a new class of oral drugs that block a repair enzyme on cancer cells, are improving long-term survival for women with ovarian cancer, up to 80% in some cases.

• Hoag is one of a small number of hospitals in California that offers Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC), which delivers heated chemotherapy at the time of ovarian cancer surgery so that the chemotherapy can be more effectively absorbed to destroy cancer cells.

• Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) combine an antibody that binds to the cancer cells with an active drug that attacks them. ADCs for recurrent ovarian cancer are currently being studied; Hoag participated in a clinical trial for the use of ADCs for recurrent ovarian cancer that may soon lead to their widespread adoption.

Philanthropy Keeps Hoag at the Forefront of Robotic-Assisted Gynecologic Surgery

The most advanced type of minimally invasive surgery, robotic-assisted surgery offers many benefits to patients including less pain, reduced scarring and faster recovery time compared with traditional open procedures. The enhanced visualization, precision, control and dexterity, also allows physicians to perform highly complex procedures. Because of the commitment of our donors, Hoag has been at the forefront of roboticassisted surgery since the technology first emerged. Recently, philanthropy allowed Hoag to acquire the latest in robotic technology, the Intuitive da Vinci SP.

John (Jeb) Brown, MD, FACOG, FACS, is the Medical Director for Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery and Robotic Surgery at Hoag. Dr. Brown is highly published and nationally recognized for his expertise in both robotic-assisted surgery and gynecologic oncology.