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Review
. 2023 Dec 23;31(1):97-114.
doi: 10.3390/curroncol31010007.

Novel Therapeutics in Ovarian Cancer: Expanding the Toolbox

Sara Moufarrij  1 , Roisin E O'Cearbhaill  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Novel Therapeutics in Ovarian Cancer: Expanding the Toolbox

Sara Moufarrij et al. Curr Oncol. .

Abstract

Despite high response rates to initial therapy, most patients with ovarian cancer will ultimately recur and go on to develop resistance to standard treatments. Novel therapies have been developed to overcome drug resistance and alter the tumor immune microenvironment by targeting oncogenic pathways, activating the innate immune response, and enhancing drug delivery. In this review, we discuss the current and future roles of chemotherapy, targeted agents such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, bevacizumab, and mirvetuximab in the treatment of ovarian cancer. We explore the emerging role of therapeutic targets, including DNA repair pathway inhibitors and novel antibody-drug conjugates. Furthermore, we delve into the role of immunotherapeutic agents such as interleukins as well as immune-promoting agents such as oncolytic viruses and cancer vaccines. Innovative combination therapies using these agents have led to a rapidly evolving treatment landscape and promising results for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.

Keywords: antibody–drug conjugate; checkpoint inhibition; homologous recombination deficiency; monoclonal antibody; nanoparticle; oncolytic viruses; ovarian cancer; poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibition; resistance; vaccines.

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Conflict of interest statement

Outside of this work Roisin E. O’Cearbhaill reports meeting/travel support from the Gynecologic Oncology Foundation, Curio, and Hitech Health; participation in the advisory boards of Tesaro/GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Immunogen, Regeneron, Seattle Genetics, Fresenius Kabi, Bayer, and CarinaBiotech (non-compensated); non-compensated steering committee participation for Tesaro/GSK and AstraZeneca; and grant support paid to the institution from Alkermes, Bayer/Celgene/Juno, Lyell Therapeutics, Tesaro/GSK, Merck, the Ludwig Cancer Institute, Abbvie/StemCentrx, Regeneron, TCR2 Therapeutics, Marker Therapeutics, Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Genmab/Seagen Therapeutics, Sellas Therapeutics, Genentech, KitePharma, and the Gynecologic Oncology Foundation. Sara Moufarrij does not have potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schema of novel therapeutic agents (represented by individual spheres) and combination therapies that are currently FDA-approved or in the clinical trial phase. Combination therapies are represented by contact between the individual spheres. The size of the spheres indicates the number of clinical trials with the use of the respective agents.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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