Contributing to gynaecological cancer resarch

Charting global trends in endometrial cancer care

In 2023, Dr Michael Yu joined the QCGC Research team as an unaccredited gynaecology oncology fellow pursuing a Master of Philosophy under the supervision of Professor Andreas Obermair. Just past the halfway point, Michael has published a scoping review about the global changes in endometrial cancer care over the past 20 years.

A gynaecological oncologist in training

“Unaccredited” means that Michael is a doctor completing advanced clinical training and gaining experience in gynaecological cancer care and surgery to add to his training in obstetrics and gynaecology.

In Australia and New Zealand, gynaecological oncology is a highly specialised field.  Although Michael has already completed substantial obstetrics and gynaecology training, he works closely with specialist gynaecological oncologists, assists or performs complex cancer surgeries under supervision, sees patients, and participates in multidisciplinary meetings.

Contributing to gynaecological cancer research

In addition to his clinical work, Michael is pursuing a Master of Philosophy under the supervision of Professor Andreas Obermair. After reviewing 6,000+ article abstracts, almost 100 papers in full, with 33 included in the final paper, Michael has identified global trends in endometrial cancer treatment.

The broad trends identified in endometrial cancer care, including the: 

• Shift towards minimally invasive surgery, which was considered in the LACE trial
• Improvement in patient outcomes, including shorter hospital stays and lower complication rates
• Increased use of adjuvant chemotherapy and hormonal therapy
• Rise in younger women (under 50 years) being diagnosed with endometrial cancer
• The move away from lymphadenectomy to sentinel node biopsy
• Movement towards fertility-preserving treatment and personalised care

Building on this knowledge

This review offers valuable insights that institutions can use to compare their practices with global standards. It also identifies key questions for further research.

For QCGC Research, this may mean reviewing Queensland’s uptake of minimally invasive surgery for endometrial cancer, complication rates and care standards.

Michael is already working on the next phase, conscious as a doctor and a researcher that time is precious in the race to improve outcomes for women with gynaecological cancer.