Annual Report 2018
Department of Gynecology
Hiroshi Tanabe, Kouta Yokosu
Introduction
Starting from April 2018, our department's system changed, from a part-time doctor offering patient services only, to two full-time doctors and a part-time doctor offering gynecological surgeries such as for ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and endometrial cancer. The total number of gynecological surgeries among the first year is as shown in Table 1. Laparoscopic surgery for endometrial cancer is available, and is covered by health insurance.
Table 1. Total number of gynecological surgeries
The Team and What We Do
A gynecologic conference is conducted biweekly and includes breast and medical oncologists and radiation oncologists. Therefore, it has been able to register some clinical trials regarding malignant gynecologic oncology cases.
In addition, the Lady's Center was established in September 2018. For patients who want to remain fertile, with a female nurse outpatient service in the center and gynecologists, the system has begun to operate within the hospital. Patients from any department who want to remain fertile are welcomed for a consultation. Then as soon as the next day, these patients will be sent to related university hospitals with which we have a comprehensive partnership agreement. This system allows patients to receive counseling prior to starting cancer treatment, and have access to reproductive technology such as embryo freezing, ovarian tissue freezing, and sperm freezing accordingly.
Research activities
Regarding the staff, Dr. Tanabe is the principal investigator in the study "Randomized Phase III Trial of the need for adjuvant chemotherapy in stage I epithelial ovarian cancer after comprehensive staging surgery" performed by the Japanese Gynecological Oncology Group (JGOG). This specified clinical research application has been certified by the Certified Review Board (CRB) of our institution, allowing our hospital to continue with the research and patient registration.
Our department has been approved as a new observer institution of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) this year, and is preparing to be registrable for clinical trials of JCOG in the future.
Clinical trials
Randomized Phase III Trial of the need for adjuvant chemotherapy in stage I epithelial ovarian cancer after comprehensive staging surgery (JGOG3020)
Education
Regarding the staff, Dr. Yokosu, who is aiming to specialize in gynecologic oncology, guidance and education, is focusing on operational methods for malignant gynecologic tumors, along with clinical practice and clinical research. In addition, he is preparing to accept the position as a residential doctor.
Future prospects
Proactively registering for clinical care of gynecologic malignant tumors focusing on a global clinical trial, JCOG, and JGOG clinical trials, and to be the center of research to establish new findings.
Planning a clinical study on expanded debulking surgery as total parietal peritonectomy for advanced ovarian cancer, to establish safety in invasive surgical procedures and to establish good prognosis over the long term.