Abstract
Ovarian cancer, which ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most common histologic type, with the 5-year survival for all stages estimated at 45.6%. This rate increases to more than 70% in the minority of patients who are diagnosed at an early stage, but declines to 35% in the vast majority of patients diagnosed at advanced stage. Recurrent EOC is incurable. Platinum sensitivity (or lack thereof) is a major determinant of prognosis. The current standard treatment is primary surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy. In recurrent platinum-resistant/platinum-refractory EOC, sequential single-agent salvage chemotherapy is superior to multiagent chemotherapy. Multiagent regimens increase toxicity without clear benefit; however, no preferred sequence of single agents is recommended. The impact of targeted therapies and immunotherapies on progression-free survival and overall survival, which remains dismal, is under active investigation. Currently, clinical trials offer the best hope for the development of a new treatment paradigm in this recalcitrant disease.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 103 |
Journal | Medical Oncology |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1 2017 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Epigenetic
- Epithelial ovarian cancer
- Platinum refractory
- Platinum resistant
- VEGF inhibitor
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Cancer Research