New therapies for ovarian cancer: cytotoxics and molecularly targeted agents.
Ovarian cancer, although a chemo-sensitive disease, is associated with high morbidity and mortality due to its often-late presentation. Platinums and taxanes have improved the prognosis over recent years but median overall survival is still unacceptably low (24-60 months). Apart from the manipulation of doses, schedules, mode of delivery, and combinations of existing drugs, new cytotoxics and molecularly targeted agents with different mechanisms of action must be evaluated in this patient population. This article will review the most recent clinical trials data pertaining to these new cytotoxic drugs including patupilone, telcyta, and trabectedin, as well as those of small molecules and inhibitors of the EGFR and VEGF receptor families. It will also discuss other potential signal transduction targets worthy of further evaluation in future trials.
Dinh
Phuong
P
Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. phuong.dinh@bordet.be
Harnett
Paul
P
Piccart-Gebhart
Martine J
MJ
Awada
Ahmad
A
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor