Clinical Co-Leader: Andrea Hagemann, M.D.
Basic Co-Leader: Kimberly Leslie, M.D., University of New Mexico
Up to 90% of the ~65,000 women diagnosed with endometrial cancer each year in the U.S. are overweight or obese, and up to 60% of endometrial cancer cases are attributed to obesity. This is, in large part, because obesity promotes development of atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH), a precursor of grade 1 endometrial cancer. If diagnosed at one of these stages, a patient can be treated with hysterectomy, which is 100% effective in preventing/curing endometrial cancer. However, hysterectomy is often unacceptable to premenopausal women who would like to retain fertility. Instead, such patients are commonly treated with progestin, most commonly via a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device. However, up to 41% of women on progestin eventually experience relapse and require a hysterectomy. Moreover, fewer than 12% of women who choose this option go on to have a live birth, likely because obesity and the commonly co-occurring insulin resistance impair fertility. As bariatric surgery can also reverse AEH and grade 1 endometrial cancer, an ideal treatment for premenopausal women desiring future fertility would be to simultaneously provide a progestin IUD along with an effective weight loss strategy.
This Early Detection, Prevention and Population Science project includes a randomized controlled trial testing the overall hypothesis that combined treatment with progestin and either therapeutic or behavioral weight loss interventions leads to greater uterine preservation than progestin use alone. Our aim is to determine the efficacy of progestin plus a behavioral weight loss intervention to allow uterine preservation and cancer prevention in premenopausal women with AEH or grade 1 endometrial cancer. Our exploratory aim is to identify biomarkers that reflect response to progestin plus weight loss. If this project identifies effective strategies, they can be widely implemented to allow premenopausal women with AEH or grade 1 endometrial cancer to both avoid cancer and preserve their uterus for future fertility.
We offer an in-person Chemo 101 class two times per month. This class is offered the first Thursday of ...
View Event DetailsJoin us for the Hope in Oklahoma — Gynecologic Cancers Support Group where we discuss treatment, the ...
View Event DetailsLast Friday of the month, 5 - 6:30 p.m. Conference Room 5058, Stephenson Cancer Center Contact: Carmen ...
View Event DetailsLast Thursday of the month, 6 p.m.- 7 p.m. Living Room Lobby, Stephenson Cancer Center Contact: Mike ...
View Event DetailsJoin our support group and meet other survivors, hear from guest speakers, ask questions, learn, share ...
View Event DetailsThe Shair mobile wig salon will be parked outside of OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center on the first ...
View Event DetailsJoin us for a cellular therapy and bone marrow transplant support group where we create a community ...
View Event DetailsIt is estimated that 40-90% of patients with cancer experience pain, and managing pain with cancer is ...
View Event DetailsWe are stronger together! Join us for in-person support groups where we discuss treatment, the social ...
View Event DetailsJoin OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, for a lung cancer ...
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