Dr. Saketh Guntupalli talks about cancer research at CU Denver
Transcription
Hello, my name is Saketh Guntupalli. I’m a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center. I also serve as an assistant professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
I love my job that I have done for the last four years here in Denver. Every day I get to come to work and help women find cures for cancer, to find remissions and, most importantly, to find hope in dealing with these very devastating diseases.
One of the hats that I wear here at the CU Anschutz Cancer Center is I’m the director of clinical research for our division of gynecologic oncology. I’m very honored to serve as the principle investigator for the gynecologic oncology group NRG, which is a national-level cancer consortium that coordinates cancer research in women that have ovarian, uterine and cervical cancer.
One of the big advantages of coming to the University of Colorado Cancer Center is that we do have the largest research consortium in the Rocky Mountain area fully dedicated to women’s cancer care. This is very important because women’s cancer research is what helps us find those cures and those remissions. It gives women hope for the treatment of gynecologic cancer.
One of the most important things that we do here at the University of Colorado Cancer Center is we look at the molecular and genetic mechanisms by which ovarian cancer develops. We have two very large clinical trials where we’re looking at ways in which we can increase survival in women that are afflicted with this disease and really obtain very long remissions and cure.
These drugs we’re using in clinical trials are targeted towards the molecular way in which ovarian cancer develops. It is quite novel and we are the only group within the Rocky Mountain region that is at the forefront of research in ovarian cancer.
One of the biggest advantages of coming to the University of Colorado Cancer Center is just the sheer volume of research that we have. We’re the largest medical school and campus in a four-state region. We also do the most clinical cancer research of any institution within these four states.
I think that’s very important because having so many different trials, different options, different researchers allows us to collaborate and really hone in on how cancer works. It’s easy to find a place to get on to a clinical trial, but the most important thing is getting on to the right clinical trial by someone who knows gynecologic cancer. I think that’s incredibly important and, at CU we’re doing that every day.