Each year nearly 80,000 women are diagnosed with cancer of the reproductive tract (ovaries, uterus, cervix, vulva) in the United States. The medical specialty dedicated to treating these women is gynecologic oncology. Though often discussed as a group, these cancers are varied in their etiology, prevention, detection, treatment and likelihood of cure.

Visit the following pages for more information about the risk factors, symptoms, and treatment of specific gynecologic cancers:

• Uterine (Endometrial) Cancer
• Ovarian Cancer
• Cervical Cancer
• Vulvar Cancer

 On this page:

• Women's Cancer Center
• Clinical Trials
• Gynecologic Cancer Research
• Care Team Members

Women's Cancer Center

The Women's Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota was established in 1988 to develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated program of care for women with malignant disease of the reproductive tract. Since its inception the center has achieved among the highest five-year cancer survival rates in the world as determined by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO).

The entire treatment team of board-certified gynecologic oncologists, radiation oncologists, gynecologic pathologists, nurse oncology program coordinators, dietitians, and social workers participate in a coordinated fashion to deliver the maximum in quality patient care.

The center brings together the skills and expertise of the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview including the Women's Health Center clinic, Patient Care Unit (7C), Department of Therapeutic Radiation, Masonic Day Chemotherapy Infusion Center, and Home Health Services to bridge the gap between the inpatient and outpatient experience.

The Women's Cancer Center has three primary goals. We seek to: provide state-of-the-art care for women with cancer; make innovative screening programs available to healthy women at risk for cancer; and offer expertise in gynecologic oncology to health care professionals throughout the community and region.

The Women's Cancer Center has an active outpatient service visited by more than 3,500 patients per year, approximately 400 are new cancer patients. Each year the 25-bed inpatient service (7-C) admits approximately 1,800 patients.

For more information or to make an appointment, call 612-626-4338 or visit the Women's Cancer Center Web page.

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Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are studies that evaluate the effectiveness of new interventions. There are different types of cancer clinical trials such as prevention trials, early detection trials, and treatment trials.

If you take part in a clinical trial, you may benefit from a new drug, procedure, or symptom-control method while helping scientists evaluate its effectiveness.

The University of Minnesota's Women's Cancer Center is actively engaged in clinical research as a member of the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), a part of the National Cancer Institute.

Participation in GOG protocols gives the Center an additional opportunity to be on the cutting edge of treatment modalities.

• Gynecologic cancer clinical trials available through the Masonic Cancer Center
• All clinical trials available through the Masonic Cancer Center

For more information about gynecologic cancer clinical trials, contact Suann Mitchell, R.N., C.C.R.A., at mitch016@umn.edu or 612-624-1919.

Participation in clinical trials is entirely optional. Not all patients will be eligible for trials at the University of Minnesota, but the staff remains committed to advancing cancer care though thoughtful study and will be happy to assist you in a national search if necessary.

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Gynecologic Cancer Research

In 1990 the Women's Cancer Center research program was formed to coordinate applied clinical, basic science, and psychological research. Basic science research is being primarily conducted in collaboration with Dr. S. Ramakrishnan in the Department of Pharmacology. Since 2000 there has been a steady increase in basic science research within the Division of Gynecologic Oncology. Collaborative efforts with the Departments of Laboratory Medicine, Pharmacy, Tumor Biology, Epidemiology, and Pathology have led to the external funding of multiple young investigators within the division.

Current basic science research efforts focus on:

• the application of anti-angiogenic therapies to gynecologic cancers
• molecular mechanisms of blocking HPV's deleterious effects on human cervical cancer cells
• defining the roles of steroid converting enzymes in the propagation of ovarian and breast cancers
• determining the role of heat shock proteins in ovarian cancer apoptosis
• examining the population trends of vulvar cancer

Care Team Members

The links below go to physician profiles on the University of Minnesota Physicians Web site. To return to this site, either bookmark this page or use your browser's back button.

Linda F. Carson, M.D., Associate Professor, Division Director, Gynecologic Oncology and Interim Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Peter A. Argenta M.D., Assistant Professor, Gynecologic Oncology

Pam Dalager, R.N., B.A.N., Program Coordinator, Women's Cancer Center

Levi S. Downs, Jr., M.D., Assistant Professor, Gynecologic Oncology

Kathyrn E. Dusenbery, M.D., Associate Professor, Therapeutic Radiation Oncology

Melissa Geller, M.D., Assistant Professor

Rahel Ghebre, M.D., Assistant Professor, Gynecologic Oncology

Marcia Hanzlik, Administrative Coordinator

Amy L. Jonson, M.D., Assistant Professor, Gynecologic Oncology

Patricia L. Judson, M.D., Assistant Professor, Gynecologic Oncology

Dona Maki, R.N., B.A.N., O.C.N., Program Coordinator, Women's Cancer Center

Suann Mitchell, R.N., C.C.R.A., Clinical Research Nurse

Sundaram Ramakrishnan, Ph.D., Shirley A. Sparboe Chair in Women's Cancer Research and Associate Professor in Pharmacology and Ob/Gyn and Women's Health

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