Ovarian Cancer

CA-125 is a “useful test” for ovarian cancer in primary care, especially in symptomatic women aged older than 50 years, according to a presenter at the recent National Cancer Research Institute Cancer Conference in Glasgow.

In this supplement to HemOnc Today, we have compiled the most-read articles written about ovarian cancer this year. From risk reducing measures (below) to improving progression-free survival (pages 12 and 14), our experts researched and weighed in on the spectrum of this deadly carcinoma. “These are exciting times in ovarian cancer research and, more importantly, for patients. Recent discoveries have realized the possibility that this is the beginning of the end of ovarian cancer,” Michael J. Birrer, MD, PhD, writes in his editorial (page 10). “Our new understanding of the origins of this disease may give rise to a reasonably effective early detection assay, which remains the holy grail of ovarian cancer research.” To follow along this journey, be sure to follow @HemOncToday on Twitter and visit Healio.com regularly.

Secondary surgical cytoreduction followed by chemotherapy did not extend OS compared with chemotherapy alone among women with platinum-sensitive, recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer, according to results of the randomized phase 3 GOG-0213 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Click here to read the Cover Story, “PARP inhibitors take big step toward changing practice.”

The FDA expanded the approval of niraparib for gynecologic cancers.

The announcement that William G. Kaelin Jr., MD, Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe, MD, and Gregg L. Semenza, MD, PhD, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability was the top story in oncology last week.

A combination of nivolumab and bevacizumab appeared safe and induced responses among women with relapsed ovarian cancer, according to results of a single-arm, phase 2 trial published in JAMA Oncology.

The FDA granted fast track designation to navicixizumab for the treatment of women with heavily pretreated high-grade ovarian, primary peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer.

BARCELONA, Spain — The addition of the ATR kinase inhibitor M6620 to gemcitabine extended PFS without additional toxicity among patients with platinum-resistant, high-grade serous ovarian cancer, according to randomized phase 2 study results presented at European Society of Medical Oncology Congress.

BARCELONA, Spain — The addition of veliparib to frontline chemotherapy followed by maintenance with veliparib monotherapy significantly prolonged PFS among women with newly diagnosed, high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, according to results of the randomized phase 3 VELIA/GOG-3005 trial presented at European Society for Medical Oncology Congress.