Ovarian Cancer

General Cancer

Despite all the positive data associated with PARP inhibitors for the treatment of patients with&nbsp;epithelial ovarian cancer who have known <em>BRCA</em> mutations, these agents are not curing patients, said Leslie M. Randall, MD, MAS, at the 2019 SGO Annual Winter Meeting.

Genomic testing can help physicians in the treatment decision process for women with ovarian cancer.&nbsp;As more of these platforms become commercially available, however, physicians must also learn the similarities and differences between each of these tests.

Debra Richardson, MD, discussed the role of PARP inhibitor combinations for frontline maintenance of women with ovarian cancer at the 2019 SGO Winter Meeting.

According to recently announced topline findings, the confirmatory phase III SOLO-3 trial of&nbsp;olaparib has met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in&nbsp;objective response rate in patients with <em>BRCA</em>-mutant ovarian cancer who have relapsed on at least 2 prior lines of therapy

At a planned interim analysis of the&nbsp;phase III JAVELIN Ovarian 100 study evaluating frontline avelumab in ovarian cancer, an independent panel determined the study would not meet its primary endpoint of progression-free survival. The co-developers of the PD-L1 inhibitor have announced they will terminate the trial on this basis.

Maurie Markman, MD, discusses how management and treatment strategies in ovarian cancer have influenced other cancers and will continue to do so.

David O&rsquo;Malley, MD, discussed the findings from 2 clinical trials investigating PARP inhibition in ovarian cancer.

According to findings from a subgroup analysis of the phase III ARIEL3 study presented at the 2018 ESMO Congress, the PARP inhibitor&nbsp;rucaparib (Rubraca)&nbsp;improved progression-free survival as a maintenance therapy in patients with&nbsp;platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer&nbsp;compared to placebo, despite the number prior of chemotherapy regimens.

Olaparib has been approved by the FDA as a maintenance therapy for&nbsp;patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline or somatic <em>BRCA</em>-mutated advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who are in complete or partial response to frontline platinum-based chemotherapy, as approved by an FDA-approved companion diagnostic assay.

Based on findings from the phase III ARIEL3 trial, the European Medicines Agency&rsquo;s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has issued a positive opinion recommending an expanded approval for single-agent rucaparib as a maintenance treatment for&nbsp;adult patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed high-grade epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who are in complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy.

During a <em>Targeted Oncology</em>&nbsp;live case-based peer perspectives presentation, David O&rsquo;Malley, reviewed the treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with ovarian cancer. O&rsquo;Malley explained to the group the factors that go into treatment decision making during the meeting based on a case scenario of a patient with high-grade serous carcinoma.

A look back at all the FDA news that happened in the month of November 2018, including several new approvals, priority reviews, a fast track designation, and an accelerated approval, across a variety of cancer types.

According to the findings from phase III JAVELIN Ovarian 200 trial, avelumab either alone or in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin did not induce a statistically significant improvement in overall survival or progression-free survival in patients with platinum&ndash;resistant/refractory ovarian cancer&nbsp;compared to PLD monotherapy.

Maurie Markman, MD, president of Medicine and Science, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, discusses how the ovarian cancer treatment paradigm has evolved over the past 30 years.

The side effect profile of olaparib tablets and the low rate of treatment discontinuation make it suitable for maintenance treatment for patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer, according to safety assessments from the SOLO-2 trial.

Based on data from the phase III SOLO-1 trial, a supplemental new drug application for olaparib tablets has been granted a priority review by the FDA for use as a maintenance therapy in patients with newly-diagnosed,<em>&nbsp;BRCA</em>-positive advanced ovarian cancer who achieved a complete or partial response to standard frontline platinum-based chemotherapy.

Promising data with PARP inhibitors, specifically olaparib and niraparib, are showcasing this class of agents&rsquo; activity in early and later-line settings of ovarian cancer, explained Kathleen Moore, MD.&nbsp;

Susana M. Campos, MD, discusses her thoughts on the biggest advancements in ovarian cancer in 2018. PARP inhibitors are great at putting these patients in remission; however, the challenge with this lies in keeping them in remission.

The rate of the 3 most common adverse events reported by US patients on niraparib who were started on 200 mg/day in real-world clinical practice is markedly less than the rate of AEs experienced by those enrolled in the pivotal phase III ENGOT-OV6/NOVA trial, in which patients were started at a 300-mg daily dose of niraparib, according to data presented at the 2018 ESMO Congress.

Lurbinectedin did not improve progression-free survival over pegylated liposomal doxorubicin or topotecan in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, according to results of the phase III CORAIL trial.

James L. Wade III, MD, FACP, FASCO, discusses the importance of clinical trials in the community.

Shannon N. Westin, MD, MPH, discusses resistance seen with PARP inhibitors in ovarian cancer and how this resistance can be overcome.