24th Annual conference of Women’s Cancer Initiative (WCI) of Tata Memorial Hospital discusses how emerging evidence is shaping gynaecological cancer care

Department of Atomic Energy 24th Annual conference of Women’s Cancer Initiative (WCI) of Tata Memorial Hospital discusses how emerging evidence is shaping gynaecological cancer care International experts and Indian oncologists came together to discuss precision diagnostics, advances in treatment and improving outcomes in advanced gynaecological cancers.

Posted On: 10 OCT 2026 3:21PM by PIB Mumbai : Mumbai, October 10, 2026 Advances in the treatment of gynaecological cancers, and the challenges of bringing them into everyday clinical practice, is the focus of the 24th Annual Conference of the Women’s Cancer Initiative–Tata Memorial Hospital (WCI–TMH), which is presently going on at the R D Choksi Auditorium, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. Themed “Gynaecological Cancers:

Evidence meets Practice,” the conference started on 8th October, 2026. The pre-conference workshops were held on October 8 and 9 and the two-day main scientific conference started from today.

Gynaecological cancers continue to pose a significant health burden in India. According to GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates, more than 1.5 lakh new cases of cervical, ovarian and uterine corpus cancers were estimated in the country in 2024. The burden underlines the importance of timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment selection and access to specialised multidisciplinary cancer care.

One of the major developments in gynaecological oncology has been the shift beyond conventional staging and histological grading towards a more precise understanding of tumour biology. Hereditary cancer gene panels and molecular diagnostics are increasingly informing risk assessment, identifying inherited cancer susceptibility and guiding treatment selection. Genetic testing in ovarian cancer and molecular classification in endometrial cancer are helping clinicians identify patients who may benefit from specific treatment approaches.Advances in surgical techniques, precision radiotherapy, targeted therapies and immunotherapy have expanded treatment options for women with advanced gynaecological cancers. Recent clinical evidence has demonstrated improvements in survival in selected patient populations, including women with locally advanced cervical cancer and advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. These developments are particularly relevant to the management of stage III and IV disease, where treatment often requires the integration of multiple therapeutic approaches.

The meeting has brought together Indian and invited international cancer specialists to examine evolving treatment strategies, multidisciplinary care and the application of emerging scientific evidence to clinical decision-making.

The conference will examine how these developments are influencing clinical practice across ovarian, cervical and endometrial cancers, with particular emphasis on evidence- based treatment selection and improving patient outcomes.

In ovarian cancer, discussions addressed evolving treatment strategies in the PARP inhibitor era, changing concepts of platinum sensitivity, biomarkers and the multidisciplinary management of recurrent disease. Prof Jonathan Ledermann of the UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, UK, delivered the Padma Shri Dr KetayunDinshaw Oration on “The journey with PARPi, lessons learned along the way.” Cervical cancer sessions focussed on recent advances in systemic treatment, the evolving role of immunotherapy, surgical approaches in early-stage disease, advances in radiotherapy and the importance of treatment quality standards. The endometrial cancer programme examined molecular classification, its implications for treatment decisions, advances in systemic therapy and the role of adjuvant radiotherapy.

The international faculty participating in the Conference also includes Prof Denis Querleu, Honorary Professor of Oncology at the University of Toulouse, France, and former President of the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology, and Prof Cyrus Chargari of Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.

The scientific programme also addressed vulvar and vulvovaginal cancers, fertility preservation, survivorship and patient-reported outcomes. Presentations of Indian clinical research and multidisciplinary case discussions examined the practical application of evidence in the Indian healthcare setting.

Pre-Conference Scientific Workshops The Cadaveric Surgical Anatomy Workshop, scheduled on October 9, 2026, at Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital, Mumbai, provided hands-on training in advanced pelvic surgical anatomy and operative techniques. With Prof Denis Querleu among the faculty, the workshop covered pelvic and retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection, omentectomy, peritonectomy, diaphragmatic procedures and techniques related to hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), with an emphasis on surgical precision and anatomical understanding.

The Advanced Radiotherapy and Brachytherapy Workshop, also scheduled on October 9, focused on contemporary approaches to radiation treatment planning and delivery in gynaecological cancers. Led by national and international faculty, including Prof CyrusChargari and Dr Supriya Chopra, the programme covered image-guided radiotherapy, target delineation, intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy, hands-on applicator insertion practice and case-based discussions on challenging treatment situations.

The two-day Artificial Intelligence Workshop, held on October 8 and 9, explored the practical application of AI in oncology, from clinical workflows and medical research to data analysis and academic work. The hands-on programme also addressed large language models, AI-assisted application development and the use of AI tools in hospital and clinical settings. The programme featured a session on “Understanding Neural Networks” by Prof ShivaramKalyanakrishnan of IIT Bombay.

Radiology Conference was organised in collaboration with 4th Annual Conference of Society of Gynaecological Imaging and Intervention, India (SOGIICON), and Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), from26th-27th September 2026. RSNA, the largest global radiology society, holds an initiative of Global Learning Centre, and through this, an ongoing 3-year collaboration with Tata Memorial Centreempowers radiology trainingin Women’s Cancers.

RSNA supported visit of Dr Priya Bhosale, (MD Anderson, Houston),who delivered the keynote address on ‘A decade of spectrum of gynecological imaging and interventions with a glimpse into the future’.

The conference was inaugurated by Surgeon Vice Admiral (Dr) Arti Sarin, former Deputy General Armed Forces Medical Services whogave an enticing insight on medical ethics, culture, and way of life, as a doctor.

Dr. Sudeep Gupta, Director, TMC and President (WCI); Dr. Suyash Kulkarni, Deputy Director Academics, TMC and Department Head, Radiology; Dr. Bhawna Dev, President

(SOGII); Dr. Rupa Renganathan, Secretary (SOGII);Dr. Palak Thakkar and Dr. Sushmita Rath, General Secretaries (WCI); and Dr. M.H. Thakur graced the inauguration.

The conference, attended by 280 radiologists, highlighted excellent scientific sessions, multi-disciplinary discussions, and a snapshot of AI. Interactive workshops offered training on critical findings impacting surgical and clinical outcome.The scientific proceedings received prudent acknowledgement and appreciation as a conference with high academic quotient.

Through the conference, WCI–TMH aims to strengthen evidence-based, multidisciplinary management of gynaecological cancers, with particular emphasis on translating advances in diagnosis and treatment into improved patient care in India.

The conference is organised by Dr AmitaMaheshwari, Dr Supriya Chopra, Dr AnbarasanSekar, Dr Rohini Kulkarni, Dr Prachi Mittal, Dr. Nilesh Sable, Dr.

AkshayBaheti and Dr.Palak Thakkar.***

Source: TMC/SC/PK

Follow us on social media: @PIBMumbai /PIBMumbai /pibmumbai pibmumbai[at]gmail [dot]com (Release ID: 2321706)Visitor Counter : 34

Read this release in: Marathi Share