Alexandra Taylor, MD

Alexandra Taylor, MD, consultant, clinical oncology, The Royal Marsden Hospital, discusses the future of treatments for patients with endometrial cancer.

There are exciting treatments coming forward, both in terms of systemic targeted agents and new radiotherapy and surgical techniques. Therefore, Taylor hopes that we can look forward to optimizing these approaches. The other take-home message, Taylor says, is the importance of assessing patients and developing strategies that look to work with patients in terms of quality of life.

Taylor is interested in looking at the new techniques of management of patients with recurrent disease, especially with local therapies. Physicians have been concentrating on the management of systemic treatment and are looking for radiation techniques—specifically stereotactic radiotherapy as a way of significantly improve our local control of recurrent or inoperable disease while minimizing toxicity. This is being developed in new clinical trials.

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Dr. Taylor on the Future of Treatments for Endometrial Cancer

Alexandra Taylor, MD, consultant, clinical oncology, The Royal Marsden Hospital, discusses the management of endometrial cancer.

One of the challenges in managing endometrial cancer is the high rate of comorbidities within the population, Taylor says. More than 80% of patients with endometrial cancer are obese, and there is a high instance of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and poor renal function. Taylor says that individualized treatment would be beneficial to these patients, considering the high rate of comorbidities and importance of quality-of-life. 

There is a lack of quality-of-life and patient reported outcomes, Taylor adds. Currently, the survival benefits for this population is modest, but the treatment regimen can have a huge impact on a woman’s quality of life. Clinicians needs to work with patients to develop strategies that optimize their quality of life alongside treatment, Taylor says.

Alexandra Taylor, MD, consultant, clinical oncology, The Royal Marsden Hospital, discusses the management of endometrial cancer.
 

Dr. Taylor Discusses the Management of Endometrial Cancer

Alexandra Taylor, MD, consultant, clinical oncology, The Royal Marsden Hospital, discusses treatments in development for patients with endometrial cancer.

There is a better knowledge of the molecular changes that can guide physicians toward specific pathways where targeted agents may have activity, explain Taylor.

According to Taylor, there are many phase II studies investigating single-agent targeted therapies, particularly with the mTOR inhibitors targeting the PI3-kinase pathway, as well as the antiangiogenic agents.

Dr. Taylor on Treatments in Development for Endometrial Cancer

Alexandra Taylor, MD, consultant, clinical oncology, The Royal Marsden Hospital, discusses the current treatment landscape of advanced endometrial cancer.

According to Taylor, the mainstay of treatment is chemotherapy. It is important to give systemic treatment, but if a patient presents with disease that can be surgically removed, there is a debate about whether they should have surgery first.

Ideally, a patient can have complete cytoreduction, meaning they undergo surgery and then receive chemotherapy, explains Taylor. The results with surgery when the patient undergoes cytoreduction can be associated with a high risk of complications.

Author | Alexandra Taylor, MD

Articles

Dr. Taylor on the Future of Treatments for Endometrial Cancer

Dr. Taylor Discusses the Management of Endometrial Cancer

Dr. Taylor on Treatments in Development for Endometrial Cancer

Dr. Taylor on the Current Treatment Landscape for Endometrial Cancer