Targeted therapy in ovarian cancer. (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lim, Hui Jun; Ledger, William
• Is Part Of: Women's health. Volume 12:Number 3(2016)
• Page Start: 363
• Page End: 378
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: combination therapy -- ovarian cancer -- PARP inhibitors -- targeted therapy -- VEGF inhibitors; Gynecology -- Periodicals; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Women -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; 618.05
• DOI: 10.2217/whe.16.4
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1745-5057

Abstract

Among female-specific cancers worldwide, ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancy in the western world. Despite radical surgery and initial high response rates to first-line chemotherapy, up to 70% of patients experience relapses with a median progression-free survival of 12–18 months. There remains an urgent need for novel targeted therapies to improve clinical outcomes in ovarian cancer. This review aims to assess current understanding of targeted therapy in ovarian cancer and evaluate the evidence for targeting growth-dependent mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis. Of the many targeted therapies currently under evaluation, the most promising strategies developed thus far are antiangiogenic agents and PARP inhibitors.