REVIEW  UPDATES IN OVARIAN CANCER AND SECONDARY PERITONEAL TUMORS 

Minerva Medica 2019 August;110(4):367-84

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4806.19.06139-1

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

New medical approaches in advanced ovarian cancer

Giacomo CORRADO ¹ ✉, Eleonora PALLUZZI ¹, Carolina BOTTONI ¹, Antonella PIETRAGALLA ¹, Vanda SALUTARI ¹, Viola GHIZZONI ¹, Mariagrazia DISTEFANO ¹, Giovanni SCAMBIA ^{1, 2}, Gabriella FERRANDINA ^{1, 2}

¹ Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Women and Children’s Health, A. Gemelli University Hospital and Institute for Research and Care, Rome, Italy; ² Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Sacred Heart Catholic University, Policlinico A. Gemelli Foundation, Rome, Italy

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among women and the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Most women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer will experience many episodes of recurrent disease with progressively shorter disease-free intervals. For women whose disease continues to respond to platinum-based drugs, the disease can often be controlled for 5 years or more. Enormous progress has been made in the management of this disease, and new targeted treatments such as antiangiogenic drugs, poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, and immune checkpoint inhibitors offer potential for improved survival. A variety of combination strategies are being evaluated to leverage these agents. The objective of this review is to summarize results from clinical trials that tested cytotoxic drugs and target strategies for the treatment of ovarian cancer with particular attention to Phase III and ongoing trials.

KEY WORDS: Ovarian neoplasms; Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors; Immunotherapy