Ovarian Cancer

The much anticipated initial results of the Gynecologic Oncology Group 252 trial failed to provide additional clarity for the use of intravenous versus intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with ovarian cancer.

The number of futile laparotomies was reduced with diagnostic laparoscopy in patients with suspected advanced-stage ovarian cancer, according to the results of a recent study.

Douglas A. Levine, MD, discusses the relationship between <em>EMSY</em> and <em>BRCA</em>, the potential to target <em>EMSY</em> amplified tumors with PARP inhibitors, and the future of ovarian cancer treatment.

Maurie Markman, MD, president of Medicine and Science, Eastern Regional Medical Center, discusses immune targeting in ovarian cancer.

A new drug application (NDA) for niraparib has been granted priority review by the FDA for use as a maintenance therapy in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who have responded to platinum-based chemotherapy, according to Tesaro, the manufacturer of the PARP 1/2 inhibitor.

The FDA has approved rucaparib (Rubraca) as a treatment for patients with&nbsp;<em>BRCA</em>-positive advanced ovarian cancer who have received at least 2 prior lines of chemotherapy.

Michael Birrer, MD, PhD, director, Medical Gynecologic Oncology Director, Gynecologic Oncology Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, discusses the current and emerging roles of PARP inhibition in ovarian cancer.

The FDA has expanded the approval for bevacizumab (Avastin) in ovarian cancer to include patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent disease as part of a combination regimen with chemotherapy followed by continued use of the angiogenesis inhibitor, according to Genentech, which developed the drug.

Significant progress is being made in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies, especially in ovarian cancer, according to Douglas A. Levine, MD.

Susan Lutgendorf, PhD, professor, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, The University of Iowa, discusses a study investigating the effects of stress on immune response and tumor microenvironment in ovarian cancer and other cancer types.

With olaparib approved and niraparib and rucaparib advancing through clinical development, PARP inhibition is becoming a valuable option in the ovarian cancer armamentarium.

The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer has risen dramatically in recent years, improving quality of life for patients and reducing morbidity, but challenges remain for oncologists looking to deploy this treatment approach in clinical practice.

In a recent study, single-agent olaparib (Lynparza) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with placebo in the maintenance setting for patients with advanced <em>BRAF</em>-positive ovarian cancer.

Jasgit Sachdev, MD, clinical associate professor at Translational Genomics Research Institute, discusses a recent study of novel antibody-drug conjugate targeting protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7) in ovarian cancer.

A streamlined, oncologist-led <em>BRCA</em> testing program showed potential for reducing time and improving acceptance of testing and counseling for patients with ovarian cancer.

The rate of complete resection at interval debulking in advanced ovarian cancer increased significantly over reference values with the addition of bevacizumab (Avastin) to neoadjuvant to platinum-based chemotherapy.

Although one patient with recurrent ovarian cancer achieved complete response,&nbsp;the first trial of abiraterone conducted in ovarian cancer was halted early due to low response, according to results from the CORAL phase 2 trial.

The antibody drug conjugate XMT-1536 could change the treatment paradigm for both non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and ovarian cancer, according to Donald Bergstrom, MD, PhD.

Rebecca Kristeleit, BSc, PhD, consultant medical oncologist, University College-London Cancer Institute, discusses the clinical activity and efficacy of rucaparib in patients with high-grade ovarian carcinoma and a BRCA mutation during an interview at the 2016 ESMO Congress.

Findings of a recent preliminary clinical trial showed one-fourth of patients with heavily pretreated advanced ovarian cancer achieved objective responses with novel antibody-drug conjugate targeting protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7).

The majority of heavily pretreated patients with high-grade ovarian cancer (HGOV) and germline or somatic <em>BRCA</em> mutations showed a durable response to rucaparib, according to findings from an analysis of two phase II trials.

Maintenance therapy with the PARP1/2 inhibitor niraparib reduced the risk of progression or death by 73% compared with placebo for patients with germline <em>BRCA</em>-positive platinum-sensitive, recurrent ovarian cancer, according to findings from the phase III NOVA trial.

Maurie Markman, MD, president of Medicine and Science, Eastern Regional Medical Center, discusses when to perform a prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy on a patient who does not have ovarian cancer, but has a known BRCA mutation.

Niraparib has been granted a fast track designation by the FDA as a treatment for women with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, the company developing the PARP inhibitor, Tesaro, has announced.

Don Bergstrom, MD, PhD, chief medical officer, Mersana Therapeutics, discusses the future of XMT-1536 in the treatment of ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).