Kristina A. Butler, M.D., M.S.

In addition to her clinical care, Dr. Butler is active in research and education, providing mentorship to trainees. She is currently involved in multiple clinical trials for patients:

• Gleolan for Visualization of Newly Diagnosed or Recurrent Ovarian Cancer (OVA-302) — Mayo Clinic. This study is to investigate the clinical usefulness of Gleolan (aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride, 5-ALA), an oral agent for the detection and visualization of ovarian cancer during surgery.
• Noninvasive detection of cancer. Dr. Butler investigates how artificial intelligence-based classifiers can be applied to transvaginal ultrasounds. This technology holds potential for noninvasive identification of endometrial cancer and endometrial atypical hyperplasia in patients with postmenopausal bleeding.
• Gynecologic cancer detection. Dr. Butler contributes to a phase 2 clinical study using methylated DNA markers from vaginal fluid to detect endometrial, ovarian and cervical cancers, which could enhance early diagnosis and treatment possibilities.
• T Cells and the tumor microenvironment for Ovarian Cancer.
• MIRASOL: A Randomized, Open-label, Phase 3 Study of Mirvetuximab Soravtansine vs. Investigator's Choice of Chemotherapy in Advanced High-Grade Epithelial Ovarian, Peritoneal, or Fallopian Tube Cancers with High Folate Receptor-Alpha Expression. Closed.
• A Phase 3, Randomized, Single Dose, Open-Label Study to Investigate the Safety and Efficacy of OTL38 Injection (OTL38) for Intra-operative Imaging of Folate Receptor Positive Ovarian Cancer. (data being analyzed, closed to new enrollment). FDA approved, closed.

She has also recently published best practice research for cancer and surgical outcomes:

• Fluorescence-Guided Surgery to Detect Microscopic Disease in Ovarian Cancer: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis E Erdemoglu, CL Langstraat, A Kumar, SA Ostby, ME Girardo, A Giannini, K Butler. Cancers 17(3). 2025.
• A phase III study of pafolacianine injection (OTL38) for intraoperative imaging of folate receptor — positive ovarian cancer (Study 006). JL Tanyi, LM Randall, SK Chambers, KA Butler, IS Winer, CL Langstraat, K Butler, et al. Journal of Clinical Oncology 41 (2), 276-284. 2023.
• Artificial Intelligence-Based Models For Early Detection Of Endometrial Cancer And Atypical Hyperplasia From Transvaginal Ultrasound Images. D Fumagalli, E Palmieri, V Tarantino, AV Gregory, LA De Vitis, I Capasso, K Butler, et al. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer 35 (2). 2025.
• Same-day dismissal for endometrial cancer robotic surgery: feasibility factors. A Giannini, JF Magrina, PM Magtibay, KA Butler. Updates in Surgery 75 (3), 743-755. 2023.
• Human papillomavirus and occupational exposure: The need for vaccine provision for healthcare providers. S Afsar, M Hossain, M Islam, H Simmonds, AA Stillwell, KA Butler. Human Vaccines & Immunotherap 20(1), 2024.
• Diaphragmatic resection and liver mobilization during surgery for advanced ovarian cancer. A Giannini, SE Beamer, KA Butler, J Magrina. European Journal of Gyn Oncology 43 (3). 2022.
• Surgical management in the pelvis for patients with advanced ovarian cancer. A Giannini, KA Butler. European Journal of Gyn Oncology 43 (3). 2022.
• Techniques for Robotic Adnexal Surgery KA Butler, JF Magrina Atlas of Robotic, Conventional, and Single-Port Laparoscopy, 225-234. 2022.
• Survival outcomes in patients with cervical cancer treated with open versus robotic radical hysterectomy: Our surgical pathology interrogation. Gyn Onc. 2020 Nov; 159(2). Yang J, Butler K, Magrina J. (et al).
• Management and outcomes of primary vaginal Cancer. Gynecol Oncol. 2020 Nov; 159 (2):456-463 Sept 22. Yang J, Butler K.
• Implementing robotic surgery for uterine cancer in the United States: Better outcomes without increased costs. Gyn Onc. 2020 Feb; 156 (2):451-458 Casarin J, Butler KA, Mariani A, et al.