title: Where do antiangiogenic agents belong in the treatment algorithm for ovarian cancer?
abstract: Although epithelial ovarian cancer responds well to chemotherapy, patients presenting with advanced disease still have a poor prognosis. The clear role of angiogenesis in the development and progression of ovarian tumorigenesis has led to the development of several novel antiangiogenic agents; however, questions remain as how to best incorporate such agents into current treatment algorithms. Searches of PubMed (terms: angiogenesis, VEGF, tyrosine kinase inhibitor, bevacizumab and ovarian cancer) and of recent results from key oncology congresses (terms: drug names and ovarian cancer) were performed to identify relevant articles and abstracts. Clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate investigational antiangiogenic agents as a component of first-line chemotherapy, as a treatment option for recurrent disease, and as maintenance therapy for ovarian cancer. The antiangiogenic monoclonal antibody bevacizumab has demonstrated a progression-free survival benefit in combination with first-line paclitaxel/carboplatin and continued as maintenance therapy, and phase II data suggest therapeutic potential for several multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors in ovarian cancer, with phase III results forthcoming for BIBF 1120, cediranib, and pazopanib. Antiangiogenic therapy remains a promising strategy for ovarian cancer, and it is hoped that results from ongoing trials will inform their optimal placement in the treatment paradigm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Women & Infants' Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Don S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Dizon
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors