Abstract
Over the last decade, a number of new cytotoxic chemotherapy agents have shown evidence of antitumor activity in patients with ovarian carcinoma. These agents are currently being evaluated in large multinational randomized trials to determine whether their addition either concurrently or sequentially to standard paclitaxel and carboplatin regimens will result in improved survival. Whether these new combinations will provide additional benefit may be uncertain; however, it is certain that additional toxicity will limit the continued evaluation of the strategy of adding cytotoxics together. New approaches to improve the systemic therapy of ovarian cancer need to be explored. The next decade will see many trials of non-cytotoxics having a wide range of subcellular and extracellular targets. Many of these targets are abnormally expressed in a variety of solid tumors; thus, it is expected that many of these agents will be appropriate to evaluate in patients with ovarian carcinoma. Based on promising data from preclinical and early clinical studies as well as the presumed applicability of these targets to ovarian carcinoma, the inhibitors of growth factor receptors such as epidermal growth factor receptor and inhibitors of angiogenesis are of particular interest. Despite the interest of the investigators, the rapid evaluation of these target-specific non-cytotoxics is limited by the lack of accurate information on the expression of target in ovarian tumors and the relevance of target expression and its modulation to this tumor type. Early clinical trials are being designed to address these concerns; however, the clinical impact of non-cytotoxic agents in epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients must await the completion of randomized evaluations in combination with standard chemotherapeutic regimens.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: International journal of gynecological cancer : official journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.