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Review
. 2015 Sep 15;121(18):3203-11.
doi: 10.1002/cncr.29481. Epub 2015 Jun 10.

Ovarian cancer treatment: The end of empiricism?

Stephanie Lheureux  1 , Katherine Karakasis  1 , Elise C Kohn  2 , Amit M Oza  1
Affiliations
Review

Ovarian cancer treatment: The end of empiricism?

Stephanie Lheureux et al. Cancer. .

Abstract

The diagnosis, investigation, and management of ovarian cancer are in a state of flux-balancing ever rapid advances in our understanding of its biology with 3 decades of clinical trials. Clinical trials that started with empirically driven selections have evolved in an evidence-informed manner to gradually improve outcome. Has this improved understanding of the biology and associated calls to action led to appropriate changes in therapy? In this review, the authors discuss incorporating emerging data on biology, combinations, dose, and scheduling of new and existing agents with patient preferences in the management of women with ovarian cancer.

Keywords: biology; biomarkers; ovarian cancer; strategy; treatment.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Current treatment strategy in ovarian cancer is illustrated. HGSOC, high‐grade serous ovarian cancer; LGSOC, low‐grade serous ovarian cancer; mBRCA, breast cancer gene mutation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Treatment evolution based on biology and evidence is illustrated. Green circles indicate data evidence for treatment use; orange circles, lack of validation to support treatment use; red circles, no evidence for treatment use. ARID1A indicates AT‐rich interactive domain 1A; BRAF, v‐raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1; HER2, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; HGSOC, high‐grade serous ovarian cancer; HRD, homologous repair deficiency; KRAS, Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog; LGSOC, low‐grade serous ovarian cancer; mBRCA, breast cancer susceptibility gene mutation; MEK, mitogen extra cellular signal‐regulated kinase; NRAS, neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog; PARP, poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase; PIK3CA, phosphoinositide‐3‐kinase, catalytic, α polypeptide; PPP2R1α, protein phosphatase 2, subunit A, α isoform; PTEN, phosphatase and tensin homolog; TP53, tumor protein p53.
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