Laboratory for the Investigation of Gynecologic Cancers
Research at University of Virginia's Division of Gynecologic Oncology
Our division has a long standing tradition of providing compassionate cutting edge clinical care to women with Gynecologic Cancers. However, we also recognize the continuing need for advancement in the available diagnostic and therapeutic options available to these women. For this reason we are firmly committed to basic, translational, and clinical research in gynecologic oncology. The following section is a brief summary highlighting some of our Division members' ongoing research interests.
Willie A. Andersen, M.D., Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Andersen is the past institutional Principal Investigators for the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) Cooperative Clinical Trials. He continues to be active in clinical research. His interests include mucinous ovarian tumors, cervical and vulvar cancers, and anti-estrogen treatment of recurrent endometrial cancers.
Susan C. Modesitt, M.D., Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology
Dr, Modesitt is the Principal investigator of Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) Cooperative Trials at UVA and serves on 2 national GOG committees (Developmental Therapeutics and the Data Safety Monitoring Board). She was the national Principal Investigator in the GOG for a clinical trial investigating a novel class of drugs called HDAC inhibitors for the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer and continues to study these drugs in mouse cancer models. She also conducts translational research aimed at understanding how obesity increases risk and affects outcomes in gynecologic malignancies.
Amir A. Jazaeri, M.D., Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
The broad research goal of Dr. Jazaeri's lab is to gain a better understanding of the molecular pathophysiology and cell biology of gynecologic cancers with an emphasis on clinically relevant endpoints for translational application. One of Dr. Jazaeri's focus areas of investigation is the development and validation of biological markers for the diagnosis and early detection of ovarian cancers using cutting edge genomic and proteomic approaches. An innovative aspect of this investigation includes use of saliva for detection of ovarian cancer related biomarkers. Other projects in Dr. Jazaeri's lab are aimed at better understanding the molecular basis for the development of chemoresistance in ovarian cancer, and establishing an in vitro model for ovarian carcinogenesis. In addition, Dr. Jazaeri is the principle investigator for the Phase II OVA2 ovarian cancer vaccine trial aimed at investigating the immunogenic of tumor targeted peptides when administered along standard frontline chemotherapy for advanced stage ovarian cancer.