Monica Avila, MD, MPH, FACOG, FACS
Monica Avila, MD, MPH, FACOG, FACS
Specialty: Gynecologic Oncology
Program: Gynecologic Oncology
Language(s): English, Spanish
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Overview
Cancer Focus:
Cervical Cancer, Endometrial (Uterine) Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Vaginal Cancer, Vulvar CancerDr. Avila received her MD degree from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, New Mexico, and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston. She completed a Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. She most recently completed a Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Dr. Avila’s clinical focus is gynecologic malignancies. She specializes in complex surgical approaches, including minimally invasive techniques. She also is interested in HPV-driven malignancies.
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Participating Trials
Clinical Trial 23380
A Seamless Phase 1/2 Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Mesothelin-Targeting Autologous Logic-gated Tmod CAR T Protducts in Heterozygous HLA-A*02 Adult with Recurrent Unresectable, Locally Advanced, or Metastatic Solid Tumors That Express MSLN and Have Lost HLA-A*02 Expression
Condition: Thoracic
Intervention: A2B543 (); A2B694 (); IL-2 (Interleukin-2); MESNA (); cyclophosphamide (); cytoxan (cyclophosphamide); fludarabine (Fludarabine phosphate)
Status: OpenClinical Trial 23618
Genomic and Immunological Roadmap of Archival HPV Gynecologic Malignancies in Diverse Populations
Condition: Gynecological Tumor
Status: OpenIf you believe you are eligible for one of these trials or studies, please call
813-745-6100 or toll-free 1-800-679-0775. -
Publications
- Markel L, Rivera L, Ordobazari A, Hakam A, Lorenzo W, Hoffman MS, Wenham RM, Avila M. Radical resection and sentinel lymph node evaluation of mammary-like adenocarcinoma of the vulva (MLAV) with somatic BRCA1 mutation. Gynecol Oncol Rep. 2025 Oct.61:101957. Pubmedid: 41090084. Pmcid: PMC12516504.
- Yasukawa M, Rivera L, Poch MA, Wenham RM, Hakam A, Avila M. Exenteration after exenteration: A vulvar pagetoid recurrence following radical resection of urothelial carcinoma. Annals of Surgical Case Reports & Images. 2025 May.2(1).
- Benyahia S, Avila M, Coughlin E, Mahil A, Riveron A, Luo Y, Wenham R, Huang J. Impact of Intraoperative Blood Transfusions on Survival Rates in Ovarian Cancer Patients. Cancer Control. 2025 Jan.32. Pubmedid: 40294239. Pmcid: PMC12038196.
- Avila M, Funston JR, Hoffman MS. Robotic radical stump trachelectomy: Critical steps of a radical procedure without normal anatomical landmarks. Gynecol Oncol Rep. 2024 Jun.53:101384. Pubmedid: 38633672. Pmcid: PMC11021824.
- Vesely M, Ordobazari A, Messina J, Chitsaz M, Sondak VK, Avila M. A rare sweat gland tumor in an ovarian teratoma: Spiradenocylindroma case report. Gynecol Oncol Rep. 2024 Aug.54:101454. Pubmedid: 39070726. Pmcid: PMC11279837.
- Pham MM, Avila M, Hinchcliff E, Westin SN. Clinical Application of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase (PARP) Inhibitors in Ovarian Cancer. Cancer Treat Res. 2023 Nov.186:71-89. Pubmedid: 37978131.
- Batman S, Rauh-Hain JA, Grinsfelder MO, Harrison R, Avila M, Cun H, How JA, Tandon N, Wang X, Hinchcliff E, Jazaeri AA, Schmeler KM. Exceptional Response to Pembrolizumab for Treatment of Metastatic Chemorefractory Endometrial Carcinoma in a Patient with Lynch Syndrome: A Case Report. Case Rep Oncol. 2023 Apr.16(1):273-278. Pubmedid: 37123608. Pmcid: PMC10134052.
- Avila M, Grinsfelder MO, Pham M, Westin SN. Targeting the PI3K Pathway in Gynecologic Malignancies. Curr Oncol Rep. 2022 Dec.24(12):1669-1676. Pubmedid: 36401704.
- Pham MM, Hinchcliff E, Avila M, Westin SN. The Clinical Challenges, Trials, and Errors of Combatting Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors Resistance. Cancer J. 2021 Nov.27(6):491-500. Pubmedid: 34904812. Pmcid: PMC9255699.
- Kurnit KC, Avila M, Hinchcliff EM, Coleman RL, Westin SN. PARP inhibition in the ovarian cancer patient: Current approvals and future directions. Pharmacol Ther. 2020 Sep.213:107588. Pubmedid: 32450190. Pmcid: PMC8331065.
- Lentz SE, Salyer CV, Dontsi M, Armstrong MA, Hoodfar E, Alvarado MM, Avila M, Nguyen NT, Powell CB. Comparison of two Lynch screening strategies in endometrial cancer in a California health system. Gynecol Oncol. 2020 Jul.158(1):158-166. Pubmedid: 32386910.
- Avila M, Meric-Bernstam F. Next-generation sequencing for the general cancer patient. Clin Adv Hematol Oncol. 2019 Aug.17(8):447-454. Pubmedid: 31449513. Pmcid: PMC6739831.
- Avila M, Funston JR, Axtell AA, Lentz SE. Preoperative Vaginal Metronidazole Decreases the Risk of Pelvic Infections After Radical Robotic Hysterectomy. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2017 Oct.27(8):1783-1787. Pubmedid: 28763367.
- Editor, Avila M. Principles and Practice of Gynecologic Oncology Handbook, Chapter 6: The Vagina. 3rd edition. Philadelphia (PA): Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. c2021. 122 p.
- Editor, Avila M. Principles and Practice of Gynecologic Oncology Handbook, Chapter 5: The Vulva. 3rd edition. Philadelphia (PA): Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. c2021. 96 p.
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Patient Comments
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Awards and Expertise
Voted top doctor in Gynecologic Oncology in Tampa Magazine’s Top Doctors 2025.
134 patients rated this provider
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