June 29, 2021:

During the month of July, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium highlights the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, and cancer center member Paul Christian Mayor, MD, MS, FACOG.

Paul Christian Mayor, MD, MS, FACOG
Assistant Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology
Indiana University School of Medicine

Educational Background

  • Medical Degree: Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University
  • Residency: Indiana University School of Medicine
  • Fellowship: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center


Research and Clinical Interests

As a gynecologic oncologist, I care for women with a whole spectrum of gynecologic cancers, including ovarian, uterine, cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancers. I manage their surgical interventions as well as their chemotherapeutic and immunotherapy treatments before and after surgery.

This work has provided me with a unique perspective and has helped influence my research interests. I am very interested in clinical trial medicine and novel therapeutics for improving outcomes in gynecological cancer.

At IU, I am the site principal investigator for nine multi-institutional NIH-sponsored clinical trials within the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) and the National Research Group (NRG). My interests in translational science center on the ovarian cancer tumor microenvironment with particular interest in genomic alterations that drive tumor resistance to chemotherapeutic agents.

I am currently collaborating with Dr. Kenneth Nephew on a project examining the role of novel therapeutics in conjunction with platinum agents that prevent the formation of ovarian cancer stem cells. I am also collaborating with Dr. Richard Carpenter on a project looking at certain novel therapeutics to target specific gene amplifications in ovarian cancer.

When it comes to basic science research, my interests lie in the role surgery plays in inducing ovarian cancer resistance to therapies. I am currently working on a project that utilizes a surgical mouse model of ovarian cancer to determine molecular changes in the tumor microenvironment that may help to explain chemotherapeutic resistance in ovarian cancer.

As a gynecologic oncologist who manages the whole patient from diagnosis to treatment, and surveillance, I feel that this provides me with a unique clinical perspective which has driven my research interests.

Additional facts about Dr. Mayor:

  • He has been to every continent, except Antarctica.
  • He is working on obtaining his Level 1 Sommelier certificate.
  • He has recently taken up snowboarding.

 

About the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium: The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium was created in 2013 to transform the conduct of cancer research through collaborative, hypothesis-driven, highly translational oncology trials that leverage the scientific and clinical expertise of Big Ten universities. The goal of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium is to create a unique team-research culture to drive science rapidly from ideas to new approaches to cancer treatment. Within this innovative environment, today’s research leaders collaborate with and mentor the research leaders of tomorrow with the unified goal of improving the lives of all patients with cancer.

About the Big Ten Conference: The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students competing in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The broad-based programs of the 14 Big Ten institutions will provide over $200 million in direct financial support to more than 9,800 students for more than 11,000 participation opportunities on 350 teams in 42 different sports. The Big Ten sponsors 28 official conference sports, 14 for men and 14 for women, including the addition of men’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s lacrosse since 2013. For more information, visit www.bigten.org.