An Update on Targeted Therapies in Ovarian Cancer

Don S. Dizon, MD, FACP, Medical Gynecologic Oncologist, Director of the Oncology Sexual Health Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital, gives an update on targeted therapies for the treatment of patients with ovarian cancer.

This is an area of intensive research, Dizon says. There is currently a movement being headed by the National Cancer Institute to design more clinical trials specifically looking at pathways.

Dizon says the role of angiogenesis inhibitors in ovarian cancer is being evaluated. Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits angiogenesis, has the most mature data and has shown activity in the first line and recurrent setting in platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant disease. However, the most appropriate setting for bevacizumab is still unknown, Dizon says.

AMG386 is currently in phase III testing in multiple settings and could further show that the vascular epidermal growth factor receptor pathway is important in gynecologic cancers.

Clinical Pearls

• There is currently a movement to design more trials looking at pathways in ovarian cancer
• Bevacizumab has shown activity in the first line and recurrent setting
• AMG386 is in phase III testing in multiple settings