Monoclonal antibodies therapies for ovarian cancer.
BACKGROUND
Despite aggressive debulking surgery, intraperitoneal therapies and the use of new drugs for chemotherapy, patients with ovarian cancer (OC) still have poor prognosis and, therefore, new strategies for its management are needed. Molecular-targeted agents can be considered a new option in drug research. Several antigens related to OC have been isolated and they could be potential target of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs); therefore, different mAbs have been developed and are emerging as new potential OC treatments.


METHODS
This article aims to review the literature on the use of mAbs in the treatment of OC. The purposes of this manuscript are to offer a brief explanation of the mechanisms of action of mAbs and to help readers in understanding the current role of mAbs in the treatment of OC.


CONCLUSIONS
A deeper knowledge of the molecular biology of OC has brought new developments in targeted therapies. Among these therapies, bevacizumab demonstrated the higher clinical efficacy. Further larger trials are needed to better define the role of the other mAbs in OC treatment. There is a strong need to identify and validate robust biomarkers for a more focused patient selection and for tailoring therapies, optimizing dose and assessing response.
University of Genoa, San Martino Hospital and National Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Largo R. Benzi 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
Umberto
U
Leone Roberti Maggiore
Filippo
F
Bellati
Ilary
I
Ruscito
Maria Luisa
ML
Gasparri
Franco
F
Alessandri
Pier Luigi
PL
Venturini
Simone
S
Ferrero
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000187:drug effects; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D058975:Folate Receptor 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D058975:Folate Receptor 1; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018396:Mucin-1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D066246:ErbB Receptors