Advances in Vulvar Cancer
Researchers are exploring new ways to prevent and treat vulvar cancer.
Advances in Prevention
Scientists are learning how certain genes control cell growth. They are also learning how changes in these genes cause normal vulvar cells to become cancerous. These special genes are called oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. The goal of this research is to develop gene therapy to replace damaged genes in cancer cells with normal genes. This may help stop the abnormal behavior of these cells.
Researchers are also working on vaccines to prevent and treat vulvar and cervical cancer. Some may protect women who are exposed to the HPV virus. This virus may make women more likely to develop certain types of cancer. Researchers are also testing vaccines on women with established HPV infections. These vaccines help their immune systems destroy the virus. That can cure or prevent the infection before a cancer develops. Other vaccines are being developed for women with recurrent cancer or cancer that has spread. The goal is to produce an immune reaction in the parts of the virus that contribute to the abnormal growth of cancer cells.
Advances in Treatment
Vulvar cancer treatment has significantly advanced over the past few decades. New studies continue to advance care for women with vulvar cancer.
Improvements in Surgery
Today, less tissue is removed with surgery. The surgery, though, still has the same excellent outcomes. Sometimes lymph nodes in the groin need to be removed as part of treatment. This can cause infections and permanent leg swelling. Now, there is a new technique to reduce these complications. It’s called sentinel node biopsy. This approach identifies the lymph nodes where cancer is most likely to spread. Then, the surgeon takes out only these nodes to check for cancer.
The Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) is enrolling patients into a current study. The study involves intraoperative lymphatic mapping. This process is used to identify the sentinel nodes. More than half of the number of patients needed have been enrolled. That means we are moving closer to a clear understanding of the value of sentinel node assessment. In the meantime, a number of small studies have been published this year. They suggest that sentinel node biopsy is safe and effective.
A large European study of sentinel lymph node biopsy was published in 2008. It suggests that, under certain circumstances, sentinel lymph node biopsy may replace removal of all the groin lymph nodes. The procedure requires an expert gynecologic oncologist, pathologist, and nuclear medicine specialist. Together, they can avoid errors that could result in a preventable relapse. Specialists around the world are analyzing these data. Soon, a consensus on using this approach will emerge. You should discuss this procedure in detail with your gynecologic oncologist prior to surgery.
Improvements in Radiation
Advanced vulvar cancer is often treated with radiation. This treatment can cause side effects. A recent study focused on a new technique to deliver radiation. It’s called intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Results show that some of the side effects of radiation can be reduced or eliminated with this technique. More studies will need to be done to confirm these results.
Photodynamic Therapy as New Treatment
An advance in the treatment of vulvar cancer is the use of light. It’s called photodynamic therapy. The light is used to kill vulvar cancer cells. With this therapy, doctors inject a chemical into a vein. The cancer cells absorb the chemical. This makes them sensitive to certain types and colors of light. Then, doctors expose the cancerous cells to a special light. That kills many of them. Early studies show promise in treating vulvar precancers and early vulvar cancer with this therapy.
Source: 2006 State of the State of Gynecologic Cancers: Fourth Annual Report to the Women of America, by the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation
Research
Cancer research gives people hope. Doctors and researchers around the world are learning more about what causes vulvar cancer. And they are looking for and studying ways to prevent it. They are always finding better ways to detect and treat this disease.
Research is being conducted in several areas. This includes prevention and treatment. Scientists are learning more about genes and how changes in genes cause the vulvar cells to become cancerous. They are also studying ways to vaccinate people against certain viruses that may lead to cancer. Studies of different treatments and the best ways to combine them to treat vulvar cancer are also being conducted.
Clinical Trials
If you have vulvar cancer, you may want to take part in a clinical trial. Clinical trials study different kinds of treatment. Doctors conduct them to learn how well new treatments work and what their side effects are. People who take part in clinical trials may benefit from new treatments. They also make an important contribution to medical science. That helps future cancer patients.
There are many studies in the area of vulvar cancer. Specifically, there are studies to test combining chemotherapy and other treatments. If you are interested in taking part in a clinical trial, discuss it with to your doctor. Your doctor can give you information and refer you to the right people.
