Abstract
Introduction: Historically, treatment options were limited for women diagnosed with late-stage or recurrent cervical cancer until recently. The publication of the results of GOG240 marks the beginning of the anti-angiogenesis era in cervical cancer. This randomized controlled trial showed significant improvements in response rates, progression-free survival and overall survival when bevacizumab was added to conventional chemotherapy in patients with metastatic, recurrent, or persistent cervical cancer. Bevacizumab is the first new drug to be approved in this disease in over 8 years. It is also the first biologic agent to be approved for use in patients with a gynecologic malignancy.
Areas covered: This review will highlight the evolution of combination chemotherapy for advanced cervical carcinoma, with particular emphasis on the recent ground-breaking research on the anti-angiogenesis therapy.
Expert opinion: Experts believe that the discoveries surrounding angiogenesis inhibitors have changed the standard of practice for women with incurable invasive cervical cancer. We will explore the advantages and disadvantages of anti-angiogenesis therapies. Ultimately, we hope that the research summarized here will one day alter the face of this disease by offering this high-risk population a rare commodity: survivorship.
Declaration of interest
KS Tewari has been a consultant for Genetech/Roche. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
Notes
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