Sean C. Dowdy, M.D.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether intravenous methadone can provide comparable analgesia to an intrathecal injection of hydromorphone. Our overall purpose is to identify the most effective and least invasive manner in which to achieve adequate postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing major gynecologic oncological surgery.

The purpose of this study is to obtain an estimate of the biochemical response rate as determined by CA125 response using the Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup (GCIG) response criteria of PD0332991 in patients with recurrent ovarian epithelial carcinoma. CA125 response is defined as ≥ 50% decrease from the baseline CA125 level and confirmed ≥ 21 days after initial evaluation (baseline is defined as the higher value of 2 pre-treatment CA125 assessments).

This randomized phase II trial studies how well metformin hydrochloride and combination chemotherapy works in treating patients with stage III-IV ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as carboplatin, paclitaxel and docetaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Metformin hydrochloride may help carboplatin, paclitaxel and docetaxel work better by making tumor cells more sensitive to the drugs. Studying samples of blood and tissue in the laboratory from patients receiving metformin hydrochloride may help doctors learn more about the effects of metformin hydrochloride on cells. It may also help doctors understand how well patients respond to treatment. Giving metformin hydrochloride together with combination chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells.

The goal of this surgical research study is to learn if conservative surgery is a safe and feasible option for women with low-risk cervical cancer (stage IA2 or IB1, Grade 1 or 2).

The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not there is a benefit to adding opioid injection around the spinal cord ( intrathecal) to incisional long-acting local anesthetic (liposomal bupivacaine) injection for pain management after abdominal surgery for gynecological cancer.