title: Vaccine-based clinical trials in ovarian cancer.
abstract: Ovarian cancer vaccines are one of the new treatment strategies under investigation in epithelial ovarian cancer. This article discusses the results of different immunization strategies, points out potential pitfalls in study designs and provides possible solutions for augmentation of clinical efficacy. Most ovarian cancer vaccines have not yet evolved beyond Phase I/II studies, which do not primarily evaluate clinical efficacy. Although different approaches of antigen-specific immunization generally result in antigen-specific immune responses, clinical benefit is not consistently observed. Based on the currently available results, we emphasize the necessity of multimodal treatment of ovarian cancer, combining classical cytoreductive surgery, (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy, immunotherapy and/or targeted therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecologic Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ninke
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leffers
authors.forename: Toos
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Daemen
authors.forename: H Marike
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Boezen
authors.forename: Kees J M
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Melief
authors.forename: Hans W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Nijman
mesh_terms: D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019496:Cancer Vaccines