Gynecologic oncologist Dr. Elizabeth Lokich joined Women & Infants Hospital’s program in women’s oncology in September, bringing her back to the institution where she completed a fellowship. She comes to Women & Infants from the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she was also an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology.
Lokich, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, earned her medical degree from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. She completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and fellowship in gynecology oncology at Women & Infants.
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Lokich spoke to Providence Business News about her work in women’s oncology and some promising developments in the prevention of cervical cancer.
PBN: What brings you to Rhode Island from the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center?
LOKICH: I’m a lifelong New Englander. I’m originally from the Boston area and spent my 20s and early 30s in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Rhode Island is home to me and I’m thrilled to be back living and working in the community that I love.
PBN: What has been the most interesting and/or challenging aspect of your work at Women & Infants?
LOKICH: Women & Infants is a special place for many reasons, but I think the most unique is that the whole hospital is dedicated exclusively to the care of women. From the Diagnostic Imaging Department, where they are experts in women’s imaging, to pathology, where they specialize in gynecologic and breast disease, to all the medical and surgical staff, including nursing and [operating room] staff, everyone has a shared mission to provide the best care possible for women.
PBN: What can you tell readers about recent advances in the HPV vaccine that allows it to be administered to much older adults than previously? What has changed that makes the vaccine safe for older people?
LOKICH: There actually has not been any change in the HPV vaccine. It was always felt to be safe in older adults, but it had never been studied in this population and therefore we didn’t have much data on its effectiveness. Gardasil 9 protects against the nine most common HPV strains that can cause cervical cancer, as well as vaginal, vulvar and anal cancer, and genital warts.
Since HPV is a sexually transmitted virus, it is recommended to immunize young men and women prior to the onset of sexual activity. The vaccine is nearly 100 percent effective in preventing HPV-related disease in this population. However, we know that both men and women in their mid-20s through mid-50s have a high level of new HPV infection as well, and thus would stand to benefit from immunization.
The expanded approval was granted based on the long-term follow-up of a study looking at vaccine efficacy in women and men age 27-45, which showed that the vaccine was still 88 percent effective at preventing HPV-related lower genital tract disease in this age group.
PBN: How many strains of the HPV virus are adults commonly exposed to?
LOKICH: There are hundreds of strains of HPV. However, the strains that are most commonly known to cause cervical and other lower genital tract cancers are 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58. About 70 percent of cervical cancers are attributed to HPV 16 and 18, and about 20 percent to HPV 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58. HPV 6 and 11 are the most common strains causing genital warts in women and men. Gardasil 9, which is the only HPV vaccine on the market currently in the United States, protects against 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58.
PBN: What piece of information would be most useful to your present and potential patients?
LOKICH: I would tell patients that it is important to be vigilant in their cancer screening. Many cancers today are highly treatable if detected early. It is also so important to pay attention to all other aspects of their health, including regular physical exercise, a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight. All aspects of cancer prevention and treatment are easier when patients are in good health at baseline.
Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.
