Tumor progression and metastatic dissemination in ovarian cancer after dose-dense or conventional paclitaxel and cisplatin plus bevacizumab

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common causes of death among gynecological malignancies. Molecular changes occurring in the primary tumor lead to metastatic spread into the peritoneum and the formation of distant metastases. Identification of these changes helps to reveal the nature of metastases development and decipher early biomarkers of prognosis and disease progression. Comparing differences in gene expression profiles between primary tumors and metastases, together with disclosing their epigenetic regulation, provides interesting associations with progression and metastasizing. Regulatory elements from the non-coding RNA families such as microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs seem to participate in these processes and represent potential molecular biomarkers of patient prognosis. Progress in therapy individualization and its proper targeting also rely upon a better understanding of interactions among the above-listed factors. This review aims to summarize currently available findings of microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs linked with tumor progression and metastatic process in ovarian cancer. These biomolecules provide promising tools for monitoring the patient’s response to treatment, and further they serve as potential therapeutic targets of this deadly disease.

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Comparison of dose-dense vs. 3-weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin in the first-line treatment of ovarian cancer in a propensity score-matched cohort

BMC Cancer ◽

10.1186/s12885-021-08270-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rafaela Pirolli ◽

Viviane Teixeira Loiola de Alencar ◽

Felipe Leonardo Estati ◽

Adriana Regina Gonçalves Ribeiro ◽

Daniella Yumi Tsuji Honda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Cancer ◽

Overall Survival ◽

Propensity Score ◽

Ovarian Carcinoma ◽

Matched Cohort ◽

Line Treatment ◽

First Line ◽

Western Population ◽

Dose Dense ◽

First Line Treatment

Abstract Background Benefit of carboplatin and dose-dense weekly paclitaxel (ddCT) in first line treatment of ovarian cancer patients has been different in Western and Asian studies. In the present study we compare progression-free survival (PFS) of ddCT to three-weekly carboplatin and paclitaxel (CT) in first-line treatment of ovarian carcinoma in a single institution in a Western population. Materials and methods We conducted a retrospective review of medical records from patients with ovarian carcinoma treated in a tertiary cancer center from 2007 to 2018. All patients treated with ddCT or CT in the first-line setting were included. Patients who received first-line bevacizumab were not included. PFS and overall survival (OS) were compared in a propensity score-matched cohort to address selection bias. Patients were matched according to age, ECOG performance status, CA 125, FIGO stage, residual disease, and histological subtype, in a 1:2 ratio. Results Five hundred eighty-eight patients were eligible for propensity score matching, the final cohort consisted of 69 patients treated with ddCT and 138 CT group. Baseline characteristics were well-balanced. After a median follow-up of 65.1 months, median PFS was 29.3 vs 20.0 months, favouring ddCT treatment (p = 0.035). In the multivariate cox regression ddCT showed a 18% lower risk of progression (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.68–0.99, p = 0.04). Overall survival data is immature, but suggested better outcomes for ddCT (not reached versus 78.8 months; p = 0.07). Conclusion Our retrospective study has shown superior PFS of ddCT over CT regimen in first-line treatment of ovarian carcinoma in a Western population not treated with bevacizumab.

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