title: An overview of early investigational therapies for chemoresistant ovarian cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the fourth commonest cause of female cancer death in the developed world. Although progress in treatment has improved survival, ∼ 80% of patients with advanced EOC will experience a recurrence and eventually will become resistant to chemotherapy. The aim of treatment for chemoresistant EOC has traditionally been limited to palliation of symptoms but the recent introduction of new therapies targeting molecular pathways is beginning to demonstrate improvements in disease control.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review provides an overview of early investigational drugs for the treatment of 'platinum-resistant' EOC. The article is based on English peer-reviewed articles located on MEDLINE and related abstracts presented at major international meetings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Drugs targeting several pathways are increasingly used to treat 'platinum-resistant' EOC. Currently, drugs targeting the angiogenesis pathway have been shown to significantly improve patient outcome. Studies are also being undertaken with inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), targeting the DNA repair pathway as it is possible that the benefits seen with these agents in 'platinum-sensitive' disease will apply to those with 'platinum-resistant' disease. The discovery of predictive biomarkers that identify patients which benefit from these targeted therapies is paramount to the success of these treatments in the future.
authors.affiliation: University of Rome "Sapienza", Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences , Viale del Policlinico, Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ledermann
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Benedetti Panici
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D015195:Drug Design; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D017671:Platinum Compounds
keywords: angiogenesis; chemotherapy; immune checkpoint inhibitors; ovarian cancer; recurrence; resistant; targeted therapy