General introduction
The Gyn GEC ESTRO working group is a core group of experts who work towards promotion, standardisation and optimisation of brachytherapy for gynaecological cancer through dissemination of the latest evidence, consensus statements, guidelines and education. Technology developments are also relevant for gynecological brachytherapy, and the GEC-ESTRO gynaecology working group aims to collaborate to stimulate technology developments that connect academic/clinical efforts with product development. The working group also collaborates with the ESTRO gynecological focus group and other international societies to facilitate synergy, consensus and broad impact of guidelines and other projects.
This working group is part of the wider Gyn GEC ESTRO network which is a platform for:
- Networking between multidisciplinary team professionals delivering brachytherapy for gynaecological cancer
- Promoting clinical studies to provide clinical evidence for new treatment approaches through advanced technology,
- Facilitating engagement in multi-centre research
- Dissemination through international publications, presentations and educational and training activities
Core values of the GEC-ESTRO gyn WG and network are: credibility, impact, transparency, mutual respect, and openness to ideas.
Fields of interest
- Sites: All gynaecological sites/malignancies
- Research
- Clinical studies
- Technology developments: e.g. treatment planning, imaging for brachytherapy, image fusion, dose accumulation and brachytherapy applicators.
- Practical implementation (contouring, treatment planning, automation, AI, imaging, quality indicators, etc.)
- Educational and quality of care efforts: European and international education, teaching courses, guideline activities
Working Group Members
Chair: Gemma Eminowicz, UK
Past Chair: Kari Tanderup, Denmark
Chair Elect: Supriya Chopra, India
Cyrus Chargari, France
Nicole Eder-Nesvacil, Austria
Lars Ulrik Fokdal, Denmark
Peter Hoskin, UK
Umesh Mahantshetty, India
Remi Nout, Netherlands
Taran Paulsen-Hellebust, Norway
Bradley Pieters, Netherlands
Max Schmid, Austria
Monica Serban, Canada
Henrike Westerveld, Netherlands
Participation and contact
The GEC-ESTRO gyn network is an open network, and we welcome all colleagues who have specific interest in gynaecological brachytherapy. Please email Gemma Eminowicz if you are interested in joining the network.
Linkedin Group:
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/10105087/
Meetings
The annual Gyn GEC-ESTRO network meeting 2025 was in Belgrade with more than 130 attendees, onsite and online. Topics of interest included update of GEC ESTRO activity re-irradiation, AI in gynae brachytherapy, quality of life and toxicity and clinical trials.
The next meeting will be in Seville on Thursday 19th November,2026.
- WP: Update of Target Concepts for Image-Guided Brachytherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer. Coordination: Max Schmid
- WP (Collaborating with ESTRO gynecology focus group): Target concepts, recording and reporting of reirradiation and clinical guidance on implementation. Coordination Supriya Chopra, Cyrus Chargari
- WP (collaboration with ESTRO gynecology focus group): Management of oligometastatic disease in gynaecological cancer. Coordination Remi Nout, Supriya Chopra
- WP (collaboration with ABS, CBG, IBS). Perioperative care of patients undergoing gynecological brachytherapy consensus statements. Coordination Gemma Eminowicz
Other GEC-ESTRO activity
- Brachy HERO collaborations: Reimbursement questionnaire for vaginal vault brachytherapy. Coordination Gemma Eminowicz
- Survey of impact of induction chemotherapy on current brachytherapy practice in cervical cancer brachytherapy: Oral presentation at ESTRO 2026. Coordination: Gemma Eminowicz
Ongoing other joint Guidelines in progress with other societies
- Treatment planning evaluation for primary/recurrent vaginal cancer, with ABS and CBG.
- Treatment planning in cervix cancer, with ABS and IBS.