# 08 Gynecological Cancers

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2022 · $18,707

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The Gynecological Cancers Program includes 59 members (25 primary, 34 associate) from 15 departments,
reflecting a 25% increase over the last 6 years. The program is led by Dr. Karen Lu (prevention studies and
translational research), with co-leaders Dr. Anil Sood (basic science mechanistic studies and translational
research) and Dr. Robert Coleman (developmental therapeutics and clinical trials). The major scientific goal of
the program is to advance knowledge of gynecologic cancers and translate this knowledge to the cure and
prevention of these diseases. To achieve this goal, the program has 4 themes that focus on 1) biology of
therapeutic targets in gynecologic cancers; 2) developmental therapeutics; 3) health services research, quality
improvement, and surgical outcomes; and 4) prevention and early detection. These, in turn, are paired with 4
specific aims. Specific Aim 1: To understand the mechanisms of tumor growth and metastasis in gynecologic
cancers in order to identify novel molecular targets and inform future clinical studies; Specific Aim 2: To improve
gynecologic cancer treatment by using a translational research platform that enables rapid clinical evaluation of
biologics and immunotherapeutics, effect on molecular targets, and tumor adaptive responses; Specific Aim 3:
To integrate patient-reported outcomes, quality improvement, and health services research into developmental
therapeutics and surgical trials; Specific Aim 4: To reduce the incidence and mortality of gynecologic cancers
by identifying innovative strategies for early detection and prevention. The annual direct cost peer-reviewed
funding totals $4.4M, including the MD Anderson SPORE in Uterine Cancer, MD Anderson SPORE in Ovarian
Cancer, a U01 EDRN-CVC for Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer, and U10 NRG Oncology Operations. Of the
total peer-reviewed funding, $3.5M (80%) is from NCI grants. Since the last submission, the program has
published 854 papers: 431 (50%) represent intra-programmatic collaborations, 216 (25%) represent inter-
programmatic collaborations, and 619 (72%) represent inter-institutional collaborations. Thirty-eight percent of
publications were in journals with IF >5, and 12% appeared in journals with IF >10, including Cancer Cell, J Clin
Oncol, Lancet Oncol, and J Clin Invest. Program members utilize all 14 Shared Resources. During the last grant
period, the program launched several high-impact initiatives, including the Ovarian Cancer Moon Shot and HPV
Cancers Moon Shot. Accomplishments include the “scope and score” algorithm to improve rates of achieving
R0 (no gross residual disease) for ovarian cancer cytoreductive surgery and studies identifying mechanisms of
adaptive response. A phase III clinical trial (GOG-0213) of bevacizumab added to standard chemotherapy
followed by bevacizumab maintenance therapy showed improved overall survival in recurrent platinum-sensitive
high-grade serous ovarian cancer. A CA125-based algori...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10467004
- **Project number:** 5P30CA016672-46
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Karen Hsieh Lu
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $18,707
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1996-08-28 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10467004

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10467004, 08 Gynecological Cancers (5P30CA016672-46). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10467004. Licensed CC0.

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