The Every Woman Study – Low and Low-Middle-Income Country Edition, published in The Lancet on 11 December 2025, has highlighted critical global challenges in women’s cancer care. With India participating through the Kolkata Gynaecological Oncology Trials and Translational Research Group (KOLGOTRG), the study underscored how limited access to expensive chemotherapy drugs and poor availability of clinical trials continue to restrict equitable cancer treatment worldwide.
KOLGOTRG Launches Landmark IPIROC Trial
Against this backdrop, the 8th Annual Meeting of KOLGOTRG marked a significant milestone with the official launch of IPIROC (Intermittent PARP Inhibitor Regimen in Ovarian Cancer). Developed after years of pioneering research by Dr. Asima Mukhopadhyay, Consultant Gynaecologist and Clinician Scientist, along with her team, the trial addresses a pressing unmet need in ovarian cancer care.
Funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and facilitated by Suraksha Diagnostics Limited (Suraksha Clinic and Diagnostics), the IPIROC trial will be conducted across all Indian states, with select international sites also participating. Importantly, the study aims to determine whether lower, intermittent dosing of PARP inhibitors can maintain treatment efficacy while reducing side effects and overall cost.
A Global Gathering of Women’s Cancer Experts
As reported by Express Healthcare, the event brought together several international and national leaders in gynaecological oncology. Distinguished attendees included Dr Michael Bookman, Chair of the Gynaecological Cancer Intergroup (GCIG), USA; Dr Amit Oza, Past Chair of GCIG, Canada; Prof Kailash Narayan, Radiation Oncologist from Melbourne, Australia; Dr Neerja Bhatla, Padma Shri awardee and former HOD, AIIMS Delhi; and Prof Val Gebski, Senior Statistician from Sydney, Australia.
In addition, leading faculty and researchers from SGPGI, KGMU Lucknow, Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai, Aster CMI Bengaluru, AIIMS Delhi, NCI Jhajjar, other AIIMS institutions, and representatives from BDR Pharma and Cepheid, along with KOLGOTRG members, were present.
KOLGOTRG’s Leadership in Global Cancer Research
KOLGOTRG continues to play a pioneering role in women’s cancer research. Notably, it remains the only research group from India and South Asia to be a member of the Global Consortium Gynaecological Cancer Intergroup (GCIG), reinforcing its international standing in academic oncology research.
Understanding PARP Inhibitors and the IPIROC Approach
PARP inhibitors are targeted cancer therapies used in tumours associated with BRCA gene mutations and defects in homologous recombination repair. By inhibiting the enzyme poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), these drugs prevent cancer cells from repairing DNA damage, leading to their natural destruction. Patient eligibility is often determined through HRD assays, commonly used in ovarian and breast cancer.
However, high costs and treatment-related side effects frequently lead to therapy discontinuation. To address this, Dr. Mukhopadhyay and her team are evaluating whether twice-weekly dosing of the PARP inhibitor Rucaparib can deliver comparable efficacy to daily dosing while significantly reducing toxicity and financial burden.
Expanding Access Through Academic Clinical Trials
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Asima Mukhopadhyay, Director of KOLGOTRG and the Regional Ovarian Cancer Centre (ROCK), expressed gratitude to ICMR for supporting the initiative. She urged oncologists across India to inform eligible patients about the trial, emphasising that it offers free access to an otherwise costly anti-cancer drug.
She also highlighted persistent barriers, noting that some physicians and centres hesitate to participate in academic trials despite their potential benefits for underprivileged patients. According to her, greater awareness is essential so that patients understand how clinical trials can open doors to advanced treatments.
Strengthening Academia–Industry Collaboration
Dr. Mukhopadhyay further acknowledged Suraksha Clinic and Diagnostics, along with its Directors Dr Somnath Chatterjee and Ms Ritu Mittal, for their critical role in establishing the study. Their support includes infrastructure for ROCK, laboratory facilities for biobanking, and the development of next-generation biomarker assays such as academic HRD and PARP testing through a unique R&D collaboration.
She emphasised that academia–industry collaboration represents the future of cancer research, citing KOLGOTRG’s partnerships with government bodies like the CSIR HCP-40 programme for drug development in women’s cancer. She also highlighted collaborations with Suraksha Diagnostics and Cepheid Global on an internationally awarded cervical cancer screening initiative in the tea gardens of Darjeeling, supported by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal, and local NGOs.
Industry and Government Support Drive Research Forward
Dr. Mukhopadhyay also acknowledged BDR Pharmaceuticals for co-funding the first phase of the trial alongside the CRUK–DBT seed corn grant, and for their continued support in trial coordination and access to PARP inhibitors for the current ICMR-funded study.
Recognising Partners and Shaping the Future
The meeting concluded with KOLGOTRG felicitating industry partners and global mentors for their sustained support. The group also recognised the pivotal role of government funding agencies, particularly ICMR, for their vision and leadership in shaping the future direction of cancer research in India.
Together, these efforts reaffirm KOLGOTRG’s commitment to advancing affordable, evidence-based, and globally relevant solutions for women’s cancer care.