Targeted Therapies in the Management of Ovarian Cancer: A Focus on Older Patients

Effect of molecular targeted agents in chemotherapy for treating platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This study aimed to investigate the effect of molecular targeted agents (MTAs) in chemo on platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC). We performed this meta-analysis according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statements. Randomized controlled trials reporting data about platinum-resistant ovarian cancer treated by MTAs were included. The endpoints for the present study included overall survival and progression-free survival. We analyzed 9 randomized controlled trials including 3631 patients with ROC. The pooled analysis indicated that a combination of MTAs with chemo could markedly increase objective response rate in those patients (P = .012). Nevertheless, the survival rate of those patients was not markedly changed (P = .19). Besides, the combination of MTAs with chemo dramatically aggravated the occurrence of adverse events (P < .05). Moreover, it resulted in the termination of treatment (P = .044) in those patients, but it had no effect on fatal adverse events (P = .16). Our results indicated that the combination of MTAs with chemo notably improved objective response rate in patients with platinum-resistant ROC, but its benefit did not translate into survival benefits.

Retrospective analysis of the efficacy of adjuvant CIK cell therapy in epithelial ovarian cancer patients who received postoperative chemotherapy

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells are demonstrated to possess potent cytolytic effect against ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. However, the clinical efficacy of maintenance therapy of CIK cells in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) after first-line treatment remains unclear. This retrospective study included 646 cases of postoperative EOC patients, 72 of which received chemotherapy and sequential immunotherapy (CIT group), and 574 of which received only chemotherapy (Control group). Patients in the CIT group received at least four cycles of CIK cell (range 8.0 × 10⁹ – 1.3 × 10¹⁰ cells) transfusion, with the interval of each cycle being 2 weeks. Survival analysis showed a significantly higher overall survival (OS) rate in the CIT group compared with the control group, as well as a favorable progression-free survival (PFS). Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that adjuvant CIT was an independent prognostic factor for the OS of patients with EOC. Furthermore, subgroup analyses showed that adjuvant CIT significantly improved the OS of patients older than 45 years, with CA125 ≤ 1000, or with moderate or poorly differentiated tumors, and prolonged the PFS of patients with residual disease > 1 cm. Additionally, Kaplan-Meier analyses revealed that a higher fraction of CD3⁺CD8⁺/CD3⁺CD56⁺ phenotypes or lower percentage of CD3⁺CD4⁺/CD3⁻CD56⁺ phenotypes in the infused CIK cells significantly associated with better survival of patients with EOC. Furthermore, across all processes of CIK cell immunotherapy in the CIT group, 12.5% (9/72) of patients developed self-limiting light fevers and shivering at grade 1 or 2. No immunotherapy-related serious reactions were recorded. These data indicate that adjuvant CIT with CIK cells is an effective therapeutic approach to prolonging the survival of EOC patients.

The safety of bevazicumab for the treatment of ovarian cancer

INTRODUCTION

The safety profile of bevacizumab (BV) remains a challenging issue, in particular its role in fragile OC patients. Areas covered: In this literature review, we have analyzed safety data from Phase III trials evaluating the combination of BV plus standard chemotherapy in advanced or recurrent OC patients. In particular, our review aimed at clarifying the impact of the drug on fragile patients, and the correlation between BV and postoperative complications after cytoreductive surgery. Expert opinion: The addition of BV to standard chemotherapy regimens may cause unexpected side effects such as hypertension or proteinuria in up to 10% of women receiving the drug. BV administration is not associated with increase postoperative complications after cytoreductive surgery. Artero-venous thromboembolism and gastrointestinal perforation/fistula occurring in around 3% of OC patients treated with BV represent life-threatening events always requiring drug suspension. A closer monitoring is required in selected groups of women including: women with inflammatory bowel disease, or uncontrolled hypertension. Age itself is not a major contraindication, but older women should be carefully evaluated prior to start the drug. Finally, BV maintenance therapy should not be prematurely stopped due to minor events, since drug suspension may reduce survival.