Peter joined the Department in 1998 and was Head of Department from 2009 until December 2015.
He completed his undergraduate training in the United Kingdom and specialised in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in New Zealand.
He subsequently completed his sub-specialty training in gynaecological oncology in Melbourne and his interests include gynaecological oncology and advanced preinvasive disease of the genital tract.
Peter is a keen outdoor sports person and enjoys tramping, mountain climbing and surfing.
Publications
Sarwar, M., Sykes, P. H., Chitcholtan, K., & Evans, J. J. (2021). Deciphering biophysical modulation in ovarian cancer cells. Cell Biochemistry & Biophysics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s12013-020-00964-9
Norell, C. H., Butler, J., Farrell, R., Altman, A., Bentley, J., Cabasag, C. J., … Sykes, P. H., … Harrison, S. (2020). Exploring international differences in ovarian cancer treatment: A comparison of clinical practice guidelines and patterns of care. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1136/ijgc-2020-001403
Cohen, P. A., Leung, Y., Anderson, L., van der Griend, R., Chivers, P., Bilic, S., … Harker, D., … Simcock, B., … Sykes, P., … Wrede, C. D. H. (2020). Excisional treatment comparison for in situ endocervical adenocarcinoma (EXCISE): A phase 2 pilot randomized controlled trial to compare histopathological margin status, specimen size and fragmentation after loop electrosurgical excision procedure and cold knife cone biopsy. Gynecologic Oncology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2020.09.053
Goyani, A. D., Innes, C. R., Simcock, B. J., Harker, D., Dudley, N. M., Eva, L., Bergzoll, C., MacNab, H., & Sykes, P. H. (2020). Trends in the diagnosis of high-grade cervical abnormalities in young women in the post-vaccination era. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1524), 50-63. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Chitcholtan, K., Harker, D., Simcock, B., & Sykes, P. (2020). Sensitivity of EGFR/HER-2 positive cells isolated from ascitic fluid of advanced ovarian cancer patients to EGFR/HER-2 inhibitors. Applied Sciences, 10(7), 2343. doi: 10.3390/app10072343
Chapter in Book - Other
Sykes, P. (2013). Obstetrics and Gynaecology. In P. Joyce, G. Nicholls, K. Thomas & T. Wilkinson (Eds.), The Christchurch experience: 40 years of research and teaching. (pp. 33-37). Christchurch, New Zealand: University of Otago.
Journal - Research Article
Sarwar, M., Sykes, P. H., Chitcholtan, K., & Evans, J. J. (2021). Deciphering biophysical modulation in ovarian cancer cells. Cell Biochemistry & Biophysics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s12013-020-00964-9
Norell, C. H., Butler, J., Farrell, R., Altman, A., Bentley, J., Cabasag, C. J., … Sykes, P. H., … Harrison, S. (2020). Exploring international differences in ovarian cancer treatment: A comparison of clinical practice guidelines and patterns of care. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1136/ijgc-2020-001403
Chitcholtan, K., Harker, D., Simcock, B., & Sykes, P. (2020). Sensitivity of EGFR/HER-2 positive cells isolated from ascitic fluid of advanced ovarian cancer patients to EGFR/HER-2 inhibitors. Applied Sciences, 10(7), 2343. doi: 10.3390/app10072343
Goyani, A. D., Innes, C. R., Simcock, B. J., Harker, D., Dudley, N. M., Eva, L., Bergzoll, C., MacNab, H., & Sykes, P. H. (2020). Trends in the diagnosis of high-grade cervical abnormalities in young women in the post-vaccination era. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1524), 50-63. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Cohen, P. A., Leung, Y., Anderson, L., van der Griend, R., Chivers, P., Bilic, S., … Harker, D., … Simcock, B., … Sykes, P., … Wrede, C. D. H. (2020). Excisional treatment comparison for in situ endocervical adenocarcinoma (EXCISE): A phase 2 pilot randomized controlled trial to compare histopathological margin status, specimen size and fragmentation after loop electrosurgical excision procedure and cold knife cone biopsy. Gynecologic Oncology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2020.09.053
Dempster-Rivett, K., Innes, C. R., Simcock, B. J., Harker, D., Williman, J. A., Van Der Griend, R. A., Whitehead, M., Hibma, M., … Petrich, S., Faherty, J., … Sykes, P. H. (2020). Evaluation of guidelines for observational management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 in young women. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 223, 408.e1-408.e11. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.02.029
Cabasag, C. J., Butler, J., Arnold, M., Rutherford, M., Bardot, A., Ferlay, J., … Sykes, P., … Soerjomataram, I. (2020). Exploring variations in ovarian cancer survival by age and stage (ICBP SurvMark-2): A population-based study. Gynecologic Oncology, 157, 234-244. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2019.12.047
Innes, C. R. H., Williman, J. A., Simcock, B. J., Hider, P., Sage, M., Dempster-Rivett, K., … Sykes, P. H. (2020). Impact of human papillomavirus vaccination on rates of abnormal cervical cytology and histology in young New Zealand women. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1508), 72-84. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Tang, M., O'Connell, R. L., Amant, F., Beales, P., McNally, O., Sjoquist, K. M., … Sykes, P., … Friedlander, M. (2019). PARAGON: A phase II study of anastrozole in patients with estrogen receptor-positive recurrent/metastatic low-grade ovarian cancers and serous borderline ovarian tumors. Gynecologic Oncology, 154, 531-538. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2019.06.011
Ekeroma, A. J., Naik, S., & Sykes, P. (2019). Systematic review of effective cervical cancer treatments in Small Island Developing States: A narrative synthesis. Pacific Journal of Reproductive Health, (8), 462-474. doi: 10.18313/pjrh.2019.906
Cohen, P. A., Powell, A., Böhm, S., Gilks, C. B., Stewart, C. J. R., Meniawy, T. M., … van der Griend, R., … the HGSC CRS Collaborative Network, including Simcock, B., Sykes, P., Vaughan, M. M., & Singh, N. (2019). Pathological chemotherapy response score is prognostic in tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patient data. Gynecologic Oncology, 154, 441-448. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2019.04.679
Sarwar, M., Sykes, P. H., Chitcholtan, K., Alkaisi, M. M., & Evans, J. J. (2019). The extracellular topographical environment influences ovarian cancer cell behaviour. Biochemical & Biophysical Research Communications, 508, 1188-1194. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.12.067
Sykes, P., Eva, L., van der Griend, R., McNally, O., Blomfield, P., Brand, A., … Petrich, S., Kenwright, D., … Innes, C., Harker, D., … Simcock, B. (2019). Pathological process has a crucial role in sentinel node biopsy for vulvar cancer. Gynecologic Oncology, 153, 292-296. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2019.02.012
Yeoh, S., Simcock, B., Innes, C., Mclachlan, J., Harker, D., & Sykes, P. (2019). Trends in the overall survival rates in women with advanced ovarian cancer in a single tertiary centre in New Zealand. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 59, 861-866. doi: 10.1111/ajo.13076
Fraser, K., Tan, A. L., Innes, C., Stephens, R., Tristram, A., Petrich, S., Lintott, C., Sykes, P. H., … Simcock, B. (2019). Patterns of referral and uptake of BReast CAncer (BRCA) gene testing of eligible women with ovarian cancer in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 132(1490), 26-35. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Adcock, A., Cram, F., Lawton, B., Geller, S., Hibma, M., Sykes, P., … Hart, S. (2019). Acceptability of self-taken vaginal HPV sample for cervical screening among an under-screened Indigenous population. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 59, 301-307. doi: 10.1111/ajo.12933
Hider, P., Dempster-Rivett, K., Williman, J., Dempster-Rivett, M., Sadler, L., McLeod, M., Miller, A., & Sykes, P. (2018). A review of cervical cancer occurrences in New Zealand 2008–2012. New Zealand Medical Journal, 131(1472), 53-63. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Evans, G. E., Phillipson, G. T. M., Sykes, P. H., McNoe, L. A., Print, C. G., & Evans, J. J. (2018). Does the endometrial gene expression of fertile women vary within and between cycles? Human Reproduction, 33(3), 452-463. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dex385
Innes, C. R., Sykes, P. H., Harker, D., Williman, J. A., Van der Griend, R. A., Whitehead, M., Hibma, M., … Petrich, S., Faherty, J., … Simcock, B. J. (2018). Changes in human papillomavirus genotypes associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 lesions in a cohort of young women (2013–2016). Papillomavirus Research, 6, 77-82. doi: 10.1016/j.pvr.2018.10.010
Hassan, W., Chitcholtan, K., Sykes, P., & Garrill, A. (2018). Ascitic fluid from advanced ovarian cancer patients compromises the activity of receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in 3D cell clusters of ovarian cancer cells. Cancer Letters, 420, 168-181. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.02.013
Janda, M., Gebski, V., Davies, L. C., Forder, P., Brand, A., Hogg, R., … Sykes, P., … Simcock, B., … Obermair, A. (2017). Effect of total laparoscopic hysterectomy vs total abdominal hysterectomy on disease-free survival among women with stage 1 endometrial cancer: A randomised clinical trial. JAMA, 317(12), 1224-1233. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.2068
Kumar, D., Mutreja, I., Chitcholtan, K., & Sykes, P. (2017). Cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of different sized gold nanoparticles in ovarian cancer cells. Nanotechnology, 28, 475101. doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/aa935e
Taghavi, K., Morell, S., Lamb, J., MacNab, H., Innes, C., Coffey, K., Williman, J., Simcock, B., & Sykes, P. (2017). Initial observation of CIN2 does not appear to reduce quality of life in women under 25 years of age. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 57(4), 473-478. doi: 10.1111/ajo.12633
Lindemann, K., Kok, P.-S., Stockler, M., Sykes, P., & Brand, A. (2017). Enhanced recovery after surgery for suspected ovarian malignancy: A survey of perioperative practice among gynecologic oncologists in Australia and New Zealand to inform a clinical trial. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 27(5), 1046-1050. doi: 10.1097/igc.0000000000000982
Tan, L. H., Sykes, P. H., Alkaisi, M. M., & Evans, J. J. (2017). Cell-like features imprinted in the physical nano- and micro-topography of the environment modify the responses to anti-cancer drugs of endometrial cancer cells. Biofabrication, 9(1), 015017. doi: 10.1088/1758-5090/aa5c9a
Jamieson, A., Sykes, P., Eva, L., Bergzoll, C., & Simcock, B. (2017). Subtypes of stage IV ovarian cancer: Response to treatment and patterns of disease recurrence. Gynecologic Oncology, 146(2), 273-278. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2017.05.023
Hassan, W., Chitcholtan, K., Sykes, P., & Garrill, A. (2016). A combination of two receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors, canertinib and PHA665752 comprises ovarian cancer cell growth in 3D cell models. Oncology & Therapy, 4(2), 257-274. doi: 10.1007/s40487-016-0031-1
Kumar, D., Mutreja, I., & Sykes, P. (2016). Seed mediated synthesis of highly mono-dispersed gold nanoparticles in the presence of hydroquinone. Nanotechnology, 27, 355601. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/27/35/355601
Tino, A. B., Chitcholtan, K., Sykes, P. H., & Garrill, A. (2016). Resveratrol and acetyl-resveratrol modulate activity of VEGF and IL-8 in ovarian cancer cell aggregates via attenuation of the NF-κB protein. Journal of Ovarian Research, 9, 84. doi: 10.1186/s13048-016-0293-0
Stravens, M., Short, J., Johnson, K., Simcock, B., Shand, B., McGeoch, G., & Sykes, P. (2016). Management of postmenopausal bleeding by general practitioners in a community setting: An observational study. New Zealand Medical Journal, 129(1434), 59-68. Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Hogg, S. J., Chitcholtan, K., Hassan, W., Sykes, P. H., & Garrill, A. (2015). Resveratrol, acetyl-resveratrol, and polydatin exhibit antigrowth activity against 3D cell aggregates of the SKOV-3 and OVCAR-8 ovarian cancer cell lines. Obstetrics & Gynecology International, 2015, 279591. doi: 10.1155/2015/279591
Tan, L. H., Sykes, P. H., Alkaisi, M. M., & Evans, J. J. (2015). The characteristics of Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells are modified by substrate topography with cell-like features and the polymer surface. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 10, 4883-4895. doi: 10.2147/ijn.s86336
Hogg, S. J., Evans, J. J., Sykes, P. H., & Chitcholtan, K. (2015). A method to investigate the anti-metabolic activity of anti-cancer agents on ovarian cancer cells cultured in a 96-well high throughput format. Journal of Ovarian Research, 8, 43. doi: 10.1186/s13048-015-0172-0
Wilkinson, T. M., Sykes, P. H. H., Simcock, B., & Petrich, S. (2015). Recurrence of high-grade cervical abnormalities following conservative management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 212(6), 769.e1-769.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.01.010
Slatter, T. L., Hsia, H., Samaranayaka, A., Sykes, P., Clow, W., Devenish, C. J., … Royds, J. A., … Hung, N. A. (2015). Loss of ATRX and DAXX expression identifies poor prognosis for smooth muscle tumours of uncertain malignant potential and early stage uterine leiomyosarcoma. Journal of Pathology: Clinical Research, 1(2), 95-105. doi: 10.1002/cjp2.11
Evans, G. E., Martínez-Conejero, J. A., Phillipson, G. T. M., Sykes, P. H., Sin, I. L., Lam, E. Y. N., … Evans, J. J. (2014). In the secretory endometria of women, luminal epithelia exhibit gene and protein expressions that differ from those of glandular epithelia. Fertility & Sterility, 102(1), 307-317. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.04.005
Sykes, P., Gopala, K., Tan, A. L., Kenwright, D., Petrich, S., Molijn, A., & Chen, J. (2014). Type distribution of human papillomavirus among adult women diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer (stage 1b or higher) in New Zealand. BMC Infectious Diseases, 14, 374. doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-14-374
Lawton, B., Filoche, S. K., Rose, S. B., Stanley, J., Garrett, S., Robson, B., Brown, S., & Sykes, P. (2014). Uterine cancer: Exploring access to services in the public health system. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 54(5), 457-461. doi: 10.1111/ajo.12237
Amant, F., Floquet, A., Friedlander, M., Kristensen, G., Mahner, S., Nam, E. J., … Sykes, P., … Seddon, B. (2014). Gynecological Cancer InterGroup (GCIG) consensus review for endometrial stromal sarcoma. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 24(9, Suppl. 3), S67-S72. doi: 10.1097/igc.0000000000000205
Chitcholtan, K., Asselin, E., Parent, S., Sykes, P. H., & Evans, J. J. (2013). Differences in growth properties of endometrial cancer in three dimensional (3D) culture and 2D cell monolayer. Experimental Cell Research, 319(1), 75-87. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2012.09.012
Kang, M. Y., Sykes, P., Herbison, P., & Petrich, S. (2013). Retrospective analysis on timeframes of referral, diagnosis and treatment of patients with endometrial carcinomas in Dunedin Hospital, 2008–2011. New Zealand Medical Journal, 126(1384). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Chitcholtan, K., Sykes, P. H., & Evans, J. J. (2012). The resistance of intracellular mediators to doxorubicin and cisplatin are distinct in 3D and 2D endometrial cancer. Journal of Translational Medicine, 10(1), 38-53. doi: 10.1186/1479-5876-10-38
Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, S., Yu, C., Kattan, M. W., Leung, Y., Sykes, P., Nascimento, M., … Obermair, A. (2012). Nomograms to predict isolated loco-regional or distant recurrence among women with uterine cancer. Gynecologic Oncology, 125(3), 520-525. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2012.02.022
Obermair, A., Janda, M., Baker, J., Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, S., Brand, A., Hogg, R., … Sykes, P., … Simcock, B., … Gebski, V. (2012). Improved surgical safety after laparoscopic compared to open surgery for apparent early stage endometrial cancer: Results from a randomised controlled trial. European Journal of Cancer, 48(8), 1147-1153. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2012.02.055
Lawton, B. A., Rose, S. B., Pullon, S., Stanley, J., Garrett, S., Sykes, P., Cormack, D., Robson, B., Langdana, F., Cooper, A., & Filoche, S. K. (2012). The impact of outpatient booking systems on waiting times for investigation of suspected cancer: The case of post-menopausal bleeding. Clinical Ovarian & Other Gynecologic Cancer, 5(2), 87-93. doi: 10.1016/j.cogc.2013.06.001
Evans, G. E., Martínez-Conejero, J. A., Phillipson, G. T. M., Simón, C., McNoe, L. A., Sykes, P. H., … Evans, J. J. (2012). Gene and protein expression signature of endometrial glandular and stromal compartments during the window of implantation. Fertility & Sterility, 97(6), 1365-1373. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.03.007
Sykes, P., Vaughan, M., Chrystal, K., Ehrenberg, N., Hefford, M., Hutchings, S., … Ngan Kee, D. (2012). Providing care for women with gynaecological malignancy: The need for a coordinated national approach. New Zealand Medical Journal, 125(1360). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, S., Janda, M., Gebski, V., Baker, J., Brand, A., Hogg, R., … Sykes, P., … Simcock, B., … Obermair, A. (2012). Risk factors to predict the incidence of surgical adverse events following open or laparoscopic surgery for apparent early stage endometrial cancer: Results from a randomised controlled trial. European Journal of Cancer, 48(14), 2155-2162. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2012.03.013
Evans, J. J., Chitcholtan, K., Dann, J. M., Guilford, P., Harris, G., Lewis, L. K., Nagase, J., … Sykes, P. H. (2012). Adrenomedullin interacts with VEGF in endometrial cancer and has varied modulation in tumours of different grades. Gynecologic Oncology, 125(1), 214-219. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2011.12.429