scholarly journals Maintenance therapy for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer: current therapies and future perspectives – a review

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudeep Gupta ◽  
Shona Nag ◽  
Shyam Aggarwal ◽  
Amit Rauthan ◽  
Narayanankutty Warrier

Abstract Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is usually diagnosed late at an advanced stage. Though EOC initially responds to treatment, the recurrence rate is pretty high. The efficacy of different targeted therapies reduces with each recurrence. Hence there is need of effective maintenance therapy in recurrent EOC. Recently, polyADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi) have been approved both for initial treatment of EOC and as its maintenance treatment. PARPi have also been found to act regardless of BRCA status or homologous recombination (HR) deficiency. Several trials testing PARPi early in maintenance therapy are in progress and their results will shed light on the optimal timing of maintenance therapy that gives the most benefit with least toxicity. Right patient selection for maintenance treatment is also a challenge. Hence, though PARPi are emerging as a promising maintenance treatment in recurrent EOC with prolongation of progression free survival (PFS), results from further trials and overall survival (OS) data from current trials are awaited to fulfill the gaps in understanding the role of this pathway in treatment of EOC. This review discusses the current therapies for EOC, challenges in the treatment of recurrent EOC, recent developments and trials in recurrent EOC maintenance with special focus on PARPi and future perspectives.

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chin-Jui Wu ◽  
Vignesh Sundararajan ◽  
Bor-Ching Sheu ◽  
Ruby Yun-Ju Huang ◽  
Lin-Hung Wei

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal of all gynecologic malignancies. Despite advances in surgical and chemotherapeutic options, most patients with advanced EOC have a relapse within three years of diagnosis. Unfortunately, recurrent disease is generally not curable. Recent advances in maintenance therapy with anti-angiogenic agents or Poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors provided a substantial benefit concerning progression-free survival among certain women with advanced EOC. However, effective treatment options remain limited in most recurrent cases. Therefore, validated novel molecular therapeutic targets remain urgently needed in the management of EOC. Signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) and STAT5 are aberrantly activated through tyrosine phosphorylation in a wide variety of cancer types, including EOC. Extrinsic tumor microenvironmental factors in EOC, such as inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, hormones, and oxidative stress, can activate STAT3 and STAT5 through different mechanisms. Persistently activated STAT3 and, to some extent, STAT5 increase EOC tumor cell proliferation, survival, self-renewal, angiogenesis, metastasis, and chemoresistance while suppressing anti-tumor immunity. By doing so, the STAT3 and STAT5 activation in EOC controls properties of both tumor cells and their microenvironment, driving multiple distinct functions during EOC progression. Clinically, increasing evidence indicates that the activation of the STAT3/STAT5 pathway has significant correlation with reduced survival of recurrent EOC, suggesting the importance of STAT3/STAT5 as potential therapeutic targets for cancer therapy. This review summarizes the distinct role of STAT3 and STAT5 activities in the progression of EOC and discusses the emerging therapies specifically targeting STAT3 and STAT5 signaling in this disease setting.


Author(s):  
Hongyan Cheng ◽  
Junjun Yang ◽  
Huixin Liu ◽  
Yang Xiang

Abstract Purpose To investigate the efficacy and safety of poly (adenosine diphosphate [ADP]–ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (including their different types) as maintenance therapy in women with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer, and to explore whether this therapy produces a survival benefit in a subgroup population with specific clinical characteristics. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and relevant clinical research registry platforms on October 1, 2019, and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared PARP inhibitors with placebo in women (aged ≥ 18 years) with newly diagnosed epithelial ovarian cancer. Results We identified four RCTs with 3,070 participants. Compared with placebo, PARP inhibitor maintenance therapy showed a clinically significant benefit on progression free survival (PFS) in homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) positive population (hazard ratio [HR], 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29–0.53). In contrast, no clear differences were identified between the groups in the HRD negative population (HR, 0.83; 95% CI 0.67–1.03). Further, there was no clear difference between the groups in terms of other outcomes (overall survival, health-related quality of life, and adverse events). Conclusions PARP inhibitor maintenance therapy significantly prolongs the PFS of patients with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer, especially in HRD positive patients. The diagnostic test used to determine HRD status plays an important role in guiding PARP inhibitor maintenance therapy. Compared with placebo, the effect of PARP inhibitors on ovarian cancer was probably not affected by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage status, response to first-line chemotherapy, and residual macroscopic disease after debulking surgery.


2021 ◽  
pp. ijgc-2021-002933
Author(s):  
Bradley J Monk ◽  
Robert L Coleman ◽  
Keiichi Fujiwara ◽  
Michelle K Wilson ◽  
Amit M Oza ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe optimal treatment strategy for women with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer has yet to be determined. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have demonstrated substantial improvement in progression-free survival as monotherapy maintenance treatment in the frontline setting versus active surveillance. Furthermore, preclinical and early clinical studies have shown that PARP inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors have synergistic antitumor activity and may provide an additional therapeutic option for patients in this population.Primary ObjectivesIn women with newly diagnosed ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer, we wish to assess the efficacy of frontline maintenance treatment with the PARP inhibitor rucaparib versus placebo following response to platinum-based chemotherapy (ATHENA–MONO), and to assess the combination of rucaparib plus nivolumab (a programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1)–blocking monoclonal antibody) versus rucaparib alone (ATHENA–COMBO).Study Hypothesis(1) Maintenance therapy with rucaparib monotherapy may extend progression-free survival following standard treatment for ovarian cancer in the frontline setting. (2) The combination of nivolumab plus rucaparib may extend progression-free survival following standard treatment for ovarian cancer in the frontline setting compared with rucaparib alone.Trial DesignATHENA is an international, randomized, double-blind, phase III trial consisting of two independent comparisons (ATHENA–MONO and ATHENA–COMBO) in patients with newly diagnosed platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. Patients are randomized 4:4:1:1 to the following: oral rucaparib+ intravenous nivolumab (arm A); oral rucaparib + intravenous placebo (arm B); oral placebo+ intravenous nivolumab (arm C); and oral placebo + intravenous placebo (arm D). The starting dose of rucaparib is 600 mg orally twice a day and nivolumab 480 mg intravenously every 4 weeks. ATHENA–MONO compares arm B with arm D to evaluate rucaparib monotherapy versus placebo, and ATHENA–COMBO evaluates arm A versus arm B to investigate the effects of rucaparib and nivolumab in combination versus rucaparib monotherapy. ATHENA–MONO and ATHENA–COMBO share a common treatment arm (arm B) but each comparison is independently powered.Major Inclusion/Exclusion CriteriaPatients ≥18 years of age with newly diagnosed advanced, high-grade epithelial ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer who have achieved a response after completion of cytoreductive surgery and initial platinum-based chemotherapy are enrolled. No other prior treatment for ovarian cancer, other than the frontline platinum regimen, is permitted.Primary EndpointThe primary endpoint is investigator-assessed progression-free survival by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.1.Sample SizeApproximately 1000 patients have been enrolled and randomized.Estimated Dates for Completing Accrual and Presenting ResultsThe trial completed accrual in 2020. While dependent on event rates, primary results of ATHENA–MONO are anticipated in early 2022 and results of ATHENA–COMBO are anticipated to mature at a later date.Trial RegistrationThis trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03522246).


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-42
Author(s):  
Massimo Di Maio ◽  
Alice Bergamini

The clinical efficacy of poly-adenosine diphosphate (ADP) ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors in BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer patients has been widely reported. However, novel challenges are currently aimed at broadening the benefit of PARP inhibitors to patients with wild-type BRCA and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) and identifying a test able to select those patients who might benefit most from this therapy. The recently published ENGOT-OV16/NOVA trial reported an advantage in progression-free survival (PFS) for patients receiving the PARP1/2 inhibitor niraparib, as maintenance treatment for platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer compared to placebo, regardless of their germline BRCA or HRD status. This suggests that niraparib could potentially represent a valuable maintenance option for virtually all patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer and that the HRD assay used in this trial is not able to reliably identify those patients who benefit the most from niraparib maintenance. These provocative considerations are the result of subgroup analyses that should be interpreted with caution but are useful to show the consistency of the effect of niraparib across the whole population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lili Gao ◽  
Rui Chen ◽  
Ting Li ◽  
Lujin Li ◽  
Qingshan Zheng

Objective: This study aimed to establish a pharmacodynamic model and to screen reasonable covariates to quantitatively describe the efficacy of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) as maintenance treatment for recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC).Methods: The log normal hazard function model was established by using progression-free survival (PFS) data of 1,169 patients from published randomized trials on FDA-approved PARP inhibitors (olaparib, niraparib, and rucaparib). Monte Carlo simulation was used to compare PFS values in different scenarios, such as monotherapy (administered alone) and combination therapy (PARPis combined with chemo- or target-therapies), different biomarker statuses, and different PARP inhibitors. PFS was also estimated.Results: The study showed that the median PFS was 8.5 months with monotherapy and 16.0 months with combination therapy. The median PFS of patients with the BRCA mutation, BRCA wild-type, and HRD-positivity were 11.0, 7.5, and 9.0 months in monotherapy, respectively, and 23.0, 14.0 and 17.5 months, in combination therapy, respectively. In addition, the median PFS of olaparib, niraparib, and rucaparib monotherapy were about 9.5, 10.5, and 12.0 months, respectively, and about 19.0, 20.0, and 25 months, respectively, in combination therapy. The median PFS values in combination with cediranib, bevacizumab, and chemotherapy were approximately 17.0, 12.5 and 19.5 months, respectively.Conclusion: PARPi combination therapy is more effective as maintenance treatment for ROC than monotherapy, and the efficacy of PARPis in combination with chemotherapy is higher than that of the combination with antiangiogenic drugs. We found that the PFS of BRCA wild-type was similar to that of HRD-positive patients, and there was no significant difference in PFS between olaparib, niraparib, and rucaparib, which provides necessary quantitative information for the clinical practice of PARPis in the treatment of ROC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 80 (12) ◽  
pp. 1195-1204
Author(s):  
Carlota Claussen ◽  
Achim Rody ◽  
Lars Hanker

AbstractEpithelial ovarian cancer is the most common cause of death from gynecological tumors. Most patients with advanced ovarian cancer develop recurrence after concluding first-line therapy, making further lines of therapy necessary. The choice of therapy depends on various criteria such as tumor biology, the patientʼs general condition (ECOG), toxicity, previous chemotherapy, and response to chemotherapy. The platinum-free or treatment-free interval determines the potential response to repeat platinum-based therapy. If patients have late recurrence, i.e. > 6 months after the end of the last platinum-based therapy (i.e., they were previously platinum-sensitive), then they are usually considered suitable for another round of a platinum-based combination therapy. Patients who are not considered suitable for platinum-based chemotherapy are treated with a platinum-free regimen such as weekly paclitaxel, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD), gemcitabine, or topotecan. Treatment for the patient subgroup which is considered suitable for platinum-based therapy but cannot receive carboplatin due to uncontrollable hypersensitivity reactions may consist of trabectedin and PLD. While the use of surgery to treat recurrence has long been a controversial issue, new findings from the DESKTOP III study of the AGO working group have drawn attention to this issue again, particularly for patients with a platinum-free interval of > 6 months and a positive AGO score. Clinical studies have also shown the efficacy of angiogenesis inhibitors such as bevacizumab and the PARP inhibitors olaparib, niraparib and rucaparib. These drugs have substantially changed current treatment practice and expanded the range of available therapies. It is important to differentiate between purely maintenance therapy after completing CTX, continuous maintenance therapy during CTX, and the therapeutic use of these substances. The PARP inhibitors niraparib, olaparib and rucaparib have already been approved for use by the FDA and the EMA. The presence of a BRCA mutation is a predictive factor for a better response to PARP inhibitors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e18707-e18707
Author(s):  
Jinan Liu ◽  
John Chan ◽  
Janvi Sah ◽  
Eric M. Maiese ◽  
Oscar Bee ◽  
...  

e18707 Background: Options for first-line (1L) maintenance therapy in ovarian cancer (OC) have evolved in the US in recent years, particularly with FDA approvals of poly(adenosine diphosphate [ADP]-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi). Olaparib was approved in 2018 for 1L maintenance treatment of patients (pts) with advanced OC with BRCA mutation and in 2020 as combination therapy with bevacizumab for 1L maintenance treatment of pts with homologous recombination deficient (HRd)–positive tumors. Additionally, the FDA approved niraparib in 2020 for maintenance treatment of pts with advanced OC regardless of tumor biomarker status. This study aimed to describe use and outcomes of 1L maintenance vs. active surveillance (AS) among PARPi-eligible pts with OC in a real-world setting prior to the most recent 2020 FDA approvals. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included pts with newly diagnosed stage III/IV OC who received 6–9 cycles of 1L platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) and either primary debulking surgery or interval debulking surgery following neoadjuvant chemotherapy between January 1, 2016, and February 29, 2020, regardless of biomarker status, from the Flatiron Health database, a longitudinal electronic health record-derived database consisting of de-identified patient-level data that are curated via technology-enabled abstraction. The end of the last cycle of 1L PBC was defined as the index date. Pts who started second-line (2L) treatment within 2 months of the index date were excluded. Primary endpoint was time to initiation of 2L systemic therapy (as a surrogate for progression) or death. Inverse probability of treatment weighting and Cox proportional hazard model were used to adjust for baseline differences among pts on maintenance therapy and pts on AS. Results: A total of 463 pts were included in the study, 87.7% from community practices and 12.3% from academic institutions. Of the pts included, 21.0% received maintenance therapy, while 79.0% did not. Of those who received maintenance therapy, 48.5% received bevacizumab, 40.2% received PARPi (olaparib, rucaparib), and 11.3% received paclitaxel. Median progression-free survival (PFS) for pts who received 1L maintenance therapy was 16.1 months, compared with 12.2 months in pts who did not receive 1L maintenance therapy. After adjusting for baseline differences in characteristics and demographics, including age, race, stage of cancer, and BRCA status, pts on maintenance therapy had a statistically significant, 29% lower risk of progression or death than those receiving AS (hazard ratio: 0.71; 95% CI, 0.52–0.99; P= 0.04). Conclusions: In this real-world analysis, the majority of pts did not receive maintenance therapy; however, a PFS benefit was found in those receiving maintenance therapy. Further studies are needed to understand how biomarker status drives practice patterns.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. TPS5598-TPS5598
Author(s):  
Viola A. Heinzelmann-Schwarz ◽  
Christian Kurzeder ◽  
Seraina Schmid ◽  
Natalie Gabriel ◽  
Andreas Mueller ◽  
...  

TPS5598 Background: The prognosis of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (OC) is poor with a relapse rate of 75% at 5 years. Some 80% of OC express estrogen receptor (ER). This is the first trial that wants to capitalize on this and prospectively evaluates letrozole, a potent aromatase inhibitor, as initial maintenance treatment for high and low grade OC. Methods: Eligible pts have primary OC, FIGO Stage II-IV with low or high grade serous or endometrioid histology, with (interval) debulking surgery, ECOG-status 0-2, Positivity (≥ 1%) for ER expression, and at least 4 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy (neoadjuvant allowed). Pts are allowed to undergo concurrent maintenance treatment with bevacizumab and PARP inhibitors. Extensive quality of life (QoL) questionnaires via an App and physical activity measurements by a tracking device as well as G8 geriatric score, ESGO surgery questionnaire, and Charleson Comorbidity Index are routinely assessed. Primary objective is to evaluate the efficacy of letrozole maintenance therapy after standard surgical and chemotherapy treatment as measured by Progression Free Survival (PFS) compared to no maintenance therapy (placebo). Primary outcome is PFS, defined as time from date of first letrozole/placebo administration until date of progression or death by any cause. Stratification for high and low grade histologies and ER measurement is performed via a digital centralized pathology review process. Final analysis will be performed for the whole cohort and for the subgroup of low grade ovarian cancers (LOGOS subprotocol). Secondary objectives and outcomes are overall survival (OS), quality adjusted progression free survival (QAPFS), time to first subsequent treatment (TFST), quality adjusted time without symptoms (TWiST), and health related QoL. Study is designed as international, randomized (1:1 ratio), two-arm, multi-centric, double-blinded, placebo-controlled superiority phase III trial. In total, 528 pts will be randomly assigned to letrozole or placebo for 5 yrs or until unacceptable toxicity, progression of underlying disease, or study discontinuation. Final analysis is planned after 5 years without interval analysis and follow-up is collected for up to 10yr and for the low-grade cohort for up to 12yr. Clinical trial information: NCT04111978.


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