Therapeutic advances in women's cancers'

Gynecologic malignancies including cancers of the uterus, ovaries, cervix, fallopian tubes, vagina, and vulva carry an estimated incidence of 80,720 cases per year (>11% of all malignancies in women), and estimated mortality rate of 28,120 women per year (>10% of all cancer related deaths) (1). While endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy, ovarian cancer causes more deaths than all other gynecologic cancers combined. The reason for this discrepancy is attributed in large part to advanced stage at the time of diagnosis, frequent recurrence, and emergence of drug resistance. Advances in the utilization of surgery and chemotherapy have improved survival for gynecologic malignancies, but survival rates appear to have plateaued. Overall cure rates for ovarian cancer, for example, are limited to a mere 30% (2). Therefore, new therapies are urgently needed to improve the outlook for women with ovarian or other gynecologic cancers.