Gynecological Oncology: From Treatment to Rehabilitation

Dear Colleagues,

Gynecological cancers—including ovarian, cervical, endometrial, uterine corpus, vulvar, and vaginal malignancies—remain a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Recent therapeutic advances in precision medicine, minimally invasive surgery, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and tailored radiotherapy have substantially improved oncologic outcomes. However, the continuum of care extends well beyond tumor control. Survivors of gynecological cancers frequently struggle with long-term physical, psychological, and functional sequelae profoundly affecting quality of life, yet these dimensions of care remain underrepresented in the oncology literature.

The growing population of gynecological cancer survivors has brought rehabilitation and survivorship science to the forefront of clinical and academic discourse. Treatment-related complications such as lymphedema, sexual dysfunction, pelvic floor disorders, cancer-related fatigue, psychosocial distress, and fertility impairment demand integrated, multidisciplinary management strategies.

Concurrently, there is growing evidence that de-escalation of oncologic therapy—including reduced surgical radicality, omission or modification of adjuvant systemic treatment, and tailored radiotherapy approaches—is both feasible and safe in appropriately selected patients. Advances in diagnostic profiling play a central role in identifying candidates for such individualized strategies.

Supportive care interventions and patient-reported outcome research are reshaping how clinicians approach the full arc of the patient journey—from diagnosis through to long-term survivorship. Bridging the gap between acute oncological treatment and comprehensive rehabilitation represents both a critical unmet need and a compelling opportunity for translational and clinical research.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to present and disseminate the most recent advances related to all aspects of care for women with gynecological cancers—from novel diagnostic approaches, therapeutic strategies, and surgical innovation to survivorship, functional recovery, and quality-of-life optimization—with the goal of further fostering a holistic, patient-centered approach to gynecological oncology.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Advances in surgical management of gynecological cancers, including minimally invasive, fertility-sparing approaches and tailored radicality approaches
• Novel systemic therapies, immunotherapies, and targeted agents in gynecological malignancies
• Radiation therapy innovations
• Diagnosis, management, and follow-up of surgical, systemic, and radiation treatment toxicities, including but not limited to pelvic floor dysfunction, urogenital sequelae, lymphedema, wound complications, gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms
• Sexual health and intimacy after gynecological cancer treatment
• Psycho-oncology, mental health, and psychosocial support for patients and caregivers
• Fertility preservation and reproductive counseling in women with gynecologic tumors
• Nutritional support and exercise-based interventions before, during, and after oncological treatment
• Patient-reported outcomes and quality-of-life measurement in clinical practice and trials
• Palliative care integration and symptom management across the disease course

Dr. Andraẑ Dovnik
Guest Editor

Dr. Boštjan Pirš
Guest Editor Assistant

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• ovarian cancer
• uterine cervical cancer
• endometrial cancer
• uterine sarcomas
• vulvar cancer
• gynecologic oncology
• radiotherapy
• oncological systemic therapy
• immunotherapy
• targeted therapy
• gynecologic cancer treatment
• molecular characterization
• precision medicine
• fertility preservation
• sexual health
• pelvic floor dysfunction
• psycho-oncology
• patient-reported outcomes
• palliative care