Ovarian cancer: new strategies and emerging targets for the treatment of patients with advanced disease

ABSTRACT

Recently approved therapies have contributed to a significant progress in the management of ovarian cancer; yet, more options are needed to further improve outcomes in patients with advanced disease. Here we review the rationale and ongoing clinical trials of novel combination strategies involving chemotherapy, poly ADP ribose polymerase, programmed death 1 (PD-1)/PD-ligand 1 immune checkpoint and/or vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitors. Further, we discuss novel agents aimed at targets associated with ovarian cancer growth or progression that are emerging as potential new treatment approaches. Among them, agents targeted to folate receptor α, tissue factor, and protein kinase-mediated pathways (WEE1 kinase, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase α, cell cycle checkpoint kinase 1/2, ATR kinase) are currently in clinical development as mono- or combination therapies. If successful, findings from these extensive development efforts may further transform treatment of patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

KEYWORDS:

• Ovarian cancer
• angiogenesis
• PARP inhibitors
• PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors
• targeted agents

Acknowledgments

Medical writing was provided by S. Mariani, MD, PhD, of Engage Scientific Solutions and was funded by Pfizer.

Disclosure statement

R. C. Arend disclosed advisory board honoraria from AstraZeneca, Clovis, Pfizer, and Tesaro. A. Jackson-Fisher, I. A. Jacobs, and J. Chou were employees of Pfizer and held stock/stock options in Pfizer at the time of this study. B. J. Monk disclosed consulting honoraria from Aravive, Asymmetric Therapeutics, Boston Biomedical, ChemoCare, ChemoID, Circulogene, Conjupro Biotherapeutics, Eisai, Geistlich, Genmab/Seattle Genetics, Gynecologic Oncology Group Foundation, ImmunoGen, Immunomedics, Incyte, Laekna Health Care, Mateon/Oxigene, Merck, Mersana, Myriad, Nucana, Oncomed, Oncoquest, Oncosec, Perthera, Pfizer, Precision Oncology, Puma, Regeneron, Samumed, Takeda, VBL, and Vigeo; and consulting/speaker honoraria from AstraZeneca, Clovis, Janssen/Johnson & Johnson, Roche/Genentech, and Tesaro/GSK.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Pfizer.