Our Clinical Trials Find out about new research studies for uterine cancer 
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Leading-Edge Research
At Memorial Sloan-Kettering, we are currently engaged in a program of active research in endometrial cancer. This includes investigations into the epidemiology and molecular genetics of endometrial cancer, the use of new imaging techniques, and novel ways to identify and combat the spread of cancer, or metastases.
Through our own research programs and those of the Gynecologic Oncology Group (a multi-institutional clinical research group supported by the National Cancer Institute), we are committed to clinical research that will improve both the survival and quality of life for women with gynecologic cancers. We also are actively engaged in the development of new drugs for treatment of endometrial cancer when other treatments have not been effective.
Tamoxifen
Memorial Sloan-Kettering investigators have completed studies to evaluate screening methods for endometrial cancer in women receiving tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer. (Adjuvant therapy refers to secondary treatment given after the primary treatment to increase the chances of a cure). The findings indicated that women who take tamoxifen should receive yearly gynecologic examinations and immediately report any signs of nonmenstrual vaginal bleeding to their doctor. They also found that a special type of ultrasound called sonohysterography was more sensitive at diagnosing endometrial cancers in women treated with tamoxifen than was the traditional method of diagnosis, endometrial biopsy. The use of sonohysterography as a screening method may spare countless women from unnecessary biopsies and other invasive procedures. [PubMed Abstract]
Uterine Sarcoma Program
Although the majority of endometrial cancers are carcinomas, some women develop a rare kind of cancer called uterine sarcoma. Unlike carcinomas that begin in the lining of the uterus, sarcomas originate in the muscle or other connective tissues of the uterus. Because uterine sarcomas are so rare, expert pathological review is critical; and, because the behavior of these tumors can be highly variable, it is important for women diagnosed with these cancers to receive treatment at a center with experience caring for such patients. Memorial Sloan-Kettering has experts who diagnose and treat uterine sarcomas, and we also have an active research program aimed at developing more effective therapies for these diseases.
Leiomyosarcoma
To treat leiomyosarcoma, a type of sarcoma that occurs within the uterine muscle wall, we have developed a novel chemotherapy regimen that has demonstrated excellent efficacy in women whose sarcoma has metastasized and cannot be removed surgically. The success of this regimen in leiomyosarcomas has led to additional research efforts, including two larger studies of our treatment regimen by the Gynecologic Oncology Group and the acceptance of this treatment regimen as a standard treatment for advanced sarcoma by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. We also led the clinical trial that showed this regimen to be effective in patients with other types of soft tissue sarcoma.
