Noelle (Noelle Gillette) Cloven: New Year, New Progress, Advancing Cervical Cancer Care in 2025

Noelle (Noelle Gillette) Cloven, Executive Chair Gynecologic Cancer Committee at Sarah Cannon Research Institute, shared on LinkedIn:

“As we welcome 2025, I’m reflecting on the power of prevention, progress, and hope.

Every year, Cervical Cancer Awareness Month reminds us of how far we’ve come in the fight against cervical cancer and how much further we can go.

Advances in immunotherapy, clinical trials, and surgical techniques are transforming outcomes for women everywhere.

Let’s start the year by prioritizing health: schedule your screenings, learn about prevention, and share the importance of early detection with those you love.

Read more in my latest article with Sarah Cannon Research Institute in exploring the progress we’ve made and the steps we can all take to make a difference.

At SCRI and Texas Oncology, we are working to bridge those gaps. Our network brings clinical trials and cutting-edge care into communities, ensuring that patients don’t have to travel far to access advanced treatments. These trials are not a last resort—they offer patients hope at every stage of their journey.

Our work spans every stage of cervical cancer care, from early detection to advanced therapies. Some of the advancements I’m most proud to be part of, to date, include:

Bringing care closer to home: SCRI’s community-based clinical trials ensure that groundbreaking treatments are accessible to women in underserved areas. By bringing state-of-the-art care to local communities, we reduce the burden on patients, making life-saving treatments more accessible and equitable.

Earlier detection with smarter strategies: Trials like the Robotic Versus Open Hysterectomy Surgery in Cervix Cancer (ROCC) trial (GOG-3043) are reshaping how we approach cervical cancer surgery.

The ROCC trial focuses on evaluating novel approaches for women recently diagnosed with cervical cancer, addressing critical gaps in treatment options. By prioritizing these innovative strategies, we aim to provide women with improved outcomes and faster recovery.

Expanding hope with advanced therapies: Immunotherapy and, more recently, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have transformed treatment options for women with locally advanced and metastatic cervical cancer.

For example, the Trop-2 ADC Sacituzumab Cervical Cancer trial (GOG-3101) is exploring a targeted approach uses ADCs to deliver cytotoxic drugs directly to cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.

This trial exemplifies how ADCs enhance precision in cancer treatment, potentially improving tumor response rates, reducing side effects, and extending survival for women with advanced, treatment-resistant cervical cancer.

Redefining the standard of care: The KEYNOTE-A18 trial (GOG-3047) has changed the standard of care for women with locally advanced cervical cancer.

By integrating immunotherapy into frontline treatment, this trial has demonstrated significant progress in improving outcomes for women facing this challenging diagnosis.

Every day, I walk into my clinic with a sense of purpose—a deep commitment to making a difference in the lives of women facing cervical cancer.

Some days, that difference comes in the form of a simple yet reassuring conversation during a routine screening. Other days, it’s offering hope through a groundbreaking clinical trial that could change a patient’s life.

This Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, I hope we can all reflect on the power of prevention and progress. Each clinical trial we conduct, each patient we care for, and each breakthrough we achieve moves us closer to a world where cervical cancer no longer takes such a toll on women and their families.

At SCRI and Texas Oncology, we’re proud to lead that charge, knowing that every step forward has the power to change a life.

This new year, I encourage all women to prioritize their health. Schedule your screenings. Stay informed about your options. And remember, cervical cancer is preventable and treatable when caught early. If you’re unsure about symptoms or care, don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider. Early detection remains one of our most powerful tools.

As we move into 2025, it’s an opportunity to recommit to progress. I am confident that we will continue to drive research that not only saves lives but also improves the quality of those lives. Together, we can make this year a brighter one for women everywhere.”