David M. Gershenson, M.D.

As Professor of Gynecologic Oncology, I am engaged in several aspects of clinical and translational research. My personal research is focused on ovarian cancer. In collaboration with several clinical and basic science colleagues, I am conducting several clinical and translational studies of rare ovarian tumors: low-grade serous tumors (serous tumors of low malignant potential and low-grade serous carcinomas), clear cell carcinomas, mucinous carcinomas, malignant ovarian germ cell tumors, and sex cord-stromal ovarian tumors. Our studies in the front-line, neoadjuvant, and recurrent settlings have indicated that low-grade serous carcinomas are relatively chemoresistant. I am the principal investigator or co-principal investigator of clinical trials focused on novel therapeutics for patients with low-grade serous carcinoma of the ovary. Other studies from our group and other investigators have also reported the poor prognosis associated with advanced stage or recurrent ovarian clear cell and mucinous carcinomas.

Since 1999, I have served as Co-Principal Investigator of M.D. Anderson’s NCI-funded SPORE in Ovarian Cancer and as Co-Project Leader of Project 3, “Personalized Therapy for Women with Low-Grade Serous Carcinoma of the Ovary.” Funding for the third consecutive 5-year cycle of this grant was renewed in September 2010. This project includes preclinical studies designed to elucidate the pathogenesis of low-grade serous carcinoma and the development of clinical trials utilizing novel targeted agents based on the preclinical findings. The clinical trials are conducted through the NCI-sponsored cooperative group—the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG).

I continue to serve as Program Leader of the Gynecological Cancers Program of M.D. Anderson’s Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG). I continue to play an active role in the leadership of the GOG. Since 2005, I have been the Chair of the GOG’s Rare Tumor Committee. During this period, the committee has completed patient accrual on a clinical trial of a novel targeted agent, a MEK inhibitor, for women with recurrent low-grade serous carcinoma of the ovary. Six other trials have been activated and are currently accruing patients. I am the Co-Principal Investigator on one of these trials and the Principal Investigator on an international trial between the GOG and a research group in UK for women with newly diagnosed mucinous carcinoma of the ovary. I also serve on the GOG’s Protocol Development Committee, which peer-reviews all clinical trials developed by the group. Since 2005, I have served as a member of the NCI’s Gynecologic Cancer Steering Committee, which approves all new phase III and randomized phase II clinical trials for gynecologic cancers in North America. In July 2010, I was elected as one of three Co-Chairs of this committee for a 3-year term. I continue to serve as Co-Chair of the Rare Tumor Working Group of the Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup (GCIG), an international consortium of 23 world-wide cooperative groups focused on gynecologic malignancies. In June 2010, I participated in a consensus conference on ovarian cancer in Vancouver, BC, sponsored by GCIG. Since March 2009, I have served as Chairman of the Foundation for Women’s Cancer (formerly the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation), a national foundation of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, whose major missions include research grant funding and public education and awareness of gynecologic cancers. My other major national activities include serving as Editor Emeritus of the journal, Gynecologic Oncology, and as a Director of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.