Objective: Gynecologic oncology is undergoing rapid development with continuous advances in treatment strategies, surgical techniques, and clinical research. Training programs must keep pace by providing future specialists with the necessary surgical skills and a solid understanding of evolving practices. This study aimed to examine the current state of gynecologic oncology training in Asia and to identify key challenges and opportunities for improvement. Methods: A descriptive survey was conducted in October 2023 under the leadership of the Education Committee of the Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology (ASGO). Key stakeholders involved in clinical training and policy-making from eight countries and regions (China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand) responded to an online questionnaire assessing the structure and quality of their national training programs. Results: Six of the eight countries/regions have official gynecologic oncology societies.Training duration was three years or more in five regions and two years in the remaining three. Seven reported conducting formal assessments of surgical skills. While five programs offered adequate exposure to minimally invasive surgery, three noted limitations. Satisfaction with research opportunities and overall training quality also varied. The most frequently cited concern was the lack of standardized curricula. Conclusion This regional overview reveals notable differences in training approaches across Asia. Standardizing educational frameworks and expanding collaborative initiatives – such as virtual tumor boards, elective rotations, and skills-based workshops – may help address current gaps and strengthen gynecologic oncology training in the region.

OBJECTIVE: The malignant transformation (MT) of ovarian mature cystic teratoma (MCT) to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is very rare. This study analyzed cases from multiple medical centers in Taiwan to investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment, and prognostic factors of this disease and reviewed related literature. METHODS: Pathological reports of 16,001 patients with primary ovarian cancer who were treated at Taiwan medical centers from 1990 to 2011 were reviewed. In total, 52 patients with MT of MCT to SCC were identified. RESULTS: Among all ovarian MCTs, the incidence of MT to SCC is 0.2%. The median age of patients was 52 years (range, 29–89 years), and the mean tumor size was 10.5 cm (range, 1–40 cm). We analyzed the patients in our study and those in the literature and determined that early identification and complete surgical resection of the tumor are essential for long-term survival. In addition, adjuvant chemotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy can be used to treat this malignancy. Old age, large tumor size (≥15.0 cm), and solid components in MCTs are suitable indicators predicting the risk of MT of MCT to SCC. CONCLUSION: Similar to general epithelial ovarian cancers, the early detection of MT of MCT to SCC is critical to long-term survival. Therefore, older patients with a large tumor or those with a tumor containing a solid component in a clinically diagnosed MCT should be evaluated to exclude potential MT to SCC.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Epithelial Cells* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Taiwan ; Teratoma*